Sections of Wangaratta's Bangerang indigenous community have supported calls for Faithfull Street to be renamed.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The history of squatter George Faithfull's involvement in killing of Aboriginal inhabitants in 1838 has come into new focus during the Black Lives Matter movement. Wangaratta councillors this week voted to consult with Aboriginal groups over the possibility of removing his name from the street.
Bangerang elder Freddie Dowling acknowledged it was a tough issue, but said "I'm all for it".
He suggested it could be changed to Torryong Street because "Torryong" is the Bangerang name for the Ovens River, which runs alongside Faithfull Street.
"I agree that it would be a good thing change it because it might be the start of something," he said.
RELATED:
The Bangerang people, who are sometimes known as the Pangerang people, also have an issue with the Warby Range National Park, named after Benjamin Warby who owned land in the area.
Mr Dowling said he would like to see that changed to the Pangerang Ranges.
A motion from Wangaratta mayor Dean Rees for council officers to conduct a consultation process on the Fiathfull Street was supported unanimously at Tuesday's council meeting.
Council discussions have already started with members of the Wangaratta-based Dirrawarra Indigenous Network, which was holding a meeting on Wednesday night, but previously flagged they might prefer storytelling of Faithfull's history rather than a name change.