McCallum Park place names

McCallum Park place names was a landmark cultural project led by Moodjar and guided by Whadjuk Nyungar Elders and Traditional Owners. Developed by the Town of Victoria Park and the Mindeera Advisory Group, the project aimed to restore deep Nyungar meanings to the lands and waters along the Victoria Park foreshore.

Over three intensive workshops in October and November 2025, a dedicated decoding group came together to investigate the cultural history of McCallum Park and the connected Mindeera Spring.

Through these workshops the group aimed to decode key Nyungar place names around McCallum Park - including Maatagarup, Joorolup, Mindeera and Derbal Yerrigan, and to begin developing a Nyungar dual name for the site that reflects its long history as a gathering, crossing and ceremonial place. Work also began on translating an important ceremonial song linked to the area.

Using Moodjar's Indigenous-led place names methodology, the group combined literature review, word lists, and, most importantly, Nyungar kaartidjin, through a consensus-based "darbakarn-darbakarn" decision-making process.

The outcomes of this work will help guide the cultural narrative presented in the updated McCallum Park Masterplan, and work towards opportunities to "daylight" Mindeera Spring - a significant cultural site that has been built over many years ago, but still flows strongly underground into the river today.

Banner image // McCallum Park place names decoding group [L-R] Back row: Clive Smith, Sylvia Nelson, Rachel Collard, Dylan Collard, Kylie Bracknell // Front row: Roni Forrest, Facilitator Dr Len Collard (Moodjar), Sandra Harben. Simon Forrest not pictured // Moodjar