The suburb of Bell Post Hill may be renamed because it's deeply offensive to Aboriginal people

Publish date: 2024-06-11

Aboriginal people have called for the Australian suburb of Bell Post Hill to be renamed as its origins are tied to the deaths of their ancestors. 

The Geelong suburb in Victoria was named after a warning bell placed on a post or forked tree on the hill overlooking Corio Bay and the Moorabool river during the 1830s.  

It was used to warn settlers when Aboriginals were nearby and once the bell was rung, it is believed they either chased the indigenous people away or slaughtered them. 

Many of Geelong's indigenous community leaders have called for an 'all of suburb vote' to rename Bell Post Hill. 

The Geelong suburb in Victoria was named after a warning bell placed on a post or forked tree on the hill overlooking Corio Bay and the Moorabool river during the 1830s

The Geelong suburb in Victoria was named after a warning bell placed on a post or forked tree on the hill overlooking Corio Bay and the Moorabool river during the 1830s

Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative chair Craig Edwards said the name of the suburb 'still hurts.'

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'We need to understand the significance that it was a bell on top of a hill on a post – and we're calling a suburb that was part of a killing squad that went down and slaughtered our aboriginal people,' Mr Edwards told the Geelong Advertiser. 

'I always believe in the quote, ''remember history, because it allows your presence to create a better future''.' 

It was used to warn settlers when Aboriginals were nearby and once the bell was rung, it is believed they either chased the indigenous people away or slaughtered them

It was used to warn settlers when Aboriginals were nearby and once the bell was rung, it is believed they either chased the indigenous people away or slaughtered them

Northern suburbs councillor Anthony Aitken said he welcomed a name change and he is glad to see the community having a conversation about the origins of their suburb.  

'It reinforces my view that we really have a lack of understanding of our indigenous heritage and history and I think we do have to develop a more permanent and ongoing way that we tell those stories in Geelong,' he said. 

The Bell Post Hill sporting clubs, including cricket and football teams, are also open to discussing name changes if the suburb is renamed.  

Many of Geelong's indigenous community leaders have called for an 'all of suburb vote' to rename Bell Post Hill

Many of Geelong's indigenous community leaders have called for an 'all of suburb vote' to rename Bell Post Hill

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