The Lawler Labor Government is committed to supporting Aboriginal Territorian aspirations and recognising Aboriginal place names.
The communities of Beswick and Pigeon Hole are now officially named Wugularr (woo · gah · larr) and Nitjpurru (nit · poo · rroo).
Wugularr is located on the traditional lands of the Bagala Clan of the Jawoyn Nation and is home to around 600 people. The English language name for the community had been adopted from the former pastoral lease known as Beswick Station and the Beswick Creek, named after James Beswick in the 1870s. The community is better known locally by its Jawoyn name Wugularr.
Pigeon Hole describes the former outstation on the Victoria River Downs pastoral lease.
Traditional Owners recognise the community by its Bilinarra language name Nitjpurru, the traditional name for the billabong just north of where the community is situated.
The name changes follow requests to the Place Names Committee from the Traditional Owners of each community. The requests were supported through consultation with community members, local government and the Northern Land Council.
These changes underline the Northern Territory Government's commitment to Local Decision Making, and supporting Aboriginal Territorians, Closing the Gap, truth-telling, healing and reconciliation.
The Place Names Committee's recommendation acknowledges that recognition of these traditional place names in our official place naming system shows respect for the identity, language and history of the Jawoyn and the Bilinarra people.
The names have been included on the Place Names Register here (https://placenames.nt.gov.au/register), the official register of Northern Territory place names.
Road signs will be changed in the coming weeks to reflect the new names.
The Northern Territory Government and its Place Names Committee are committed to the elevation of Aboriginal place names into everyday use through registration in our official place naming system.
