Renaming Merri-bek

As a Council, we recognise the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people as the Traditional Owners of the lands and waterways in the area now known as Merri-bek.

Elders from the Traditional Owner community and other community representatives asked us to consider renaming our city council.

We held a Special Council Meeting at 7pm on Monday 13 December to consider an officer report outlining recommendations for progressing the renaming request. The report is available to read on our Council meeting minutes and past agendas page.

You can also watch a recording of the meeting on our Facebook page.

On 14 May 2022, Council formally accepted and endorsed 3 name options offered by the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation. These proposed names were consulted on with community from May - June 2022: 

• Wa-dam-buk (pronounced wah-dam-book)
  Meaning: 'Renew'
• Merri-bek (pronounced merry-beck)
  Meaning: 'Rocky country'
• Jerrang (pronounced jer-rang)
  Meaning: 'Leaf of tree'

A large majority of participants in a community consultation chose ‘Merri-bek’ as their preferred option for the new name of our council. 6,315 people members of the community had their say by submitting a survey, plus we heard from children and Council staff. 

Councillors endorsed the recommendation at a Special Council Meeting at Glenroy Community Hub on Sunday 3 July.  The name was approved by the State Government and came into effect on 26 September 2022.

$250,000 per year for 2 financial years ($500,000 in total) will be allocated to update Council’s digital platforms, signs at significant Council buildings and facilities, and municipal entry signs. Updating other Council assets such as street and park signs and smaller facilities signage will be staged over a 10-year timeframe within existing budget allocations and asset renewal programs.

Learn more about the project on our Conversations Merri-bek website.