GOUGH Whitlam famously once said “God save the Queen”.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But in the case of Albury’s QEII Square, one city councillor would have the Queen dropped from the title, in favour of renaming the space after the former prime minister.
Cr Darren Cameron first floated the idea of a tribute to the iconic Australian leader at last month’s council meeting.
He said Mr Whitlam had greater significance to the city than any other prime minister.
“The Albury-Wodonga Development Corporation has helped shape our society and I don’t think there have been any other prime ministers in Australia’s history that have had such an impact on our city,” he said.
“My personal preference would be to rename QEII.
“It was only named QEII because the current queen once passed through there and I don’t think it’s a name that has really ever taken with the older population in Albury.
“People of my generation still tend to call it the civic centre.”
The central Albury space has undergone three name changes in its history.
It was known as Dean Square and Civic Square before becoming QEII Square in 1988 when the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh visited Albury.
Former mayor Amanda Duncan-Strelec also floated the idea of a name change to Anzac Square or Remembrance Square in 2010, but faced significant opposition.
A small court in Wodonga’s Federation Park is the only Border landmark to carry Mr Whitlam’s name.
While Cr Cameron favours renaming QEII Square to acknowledge the man who brought Albury and Wodonga together, he said he is supportive of other ideas.
“There are numerous options including the usual things like re-naming parks and roads,” he said.
“New housing subdivisions would also be an ideal opportunity to honour his memory.”
Cr Cameron hadn’t put a time frame on when the idea would be tabled at council.
“I’ve learnt it is better when you are trying to get change to do it in a collegial fashion and don’t force it on councillors.”