I’ve been considering doing some research about some of the suburb names in Melbourne, more specifically those that sound Aboriginal such as ‘Murrumbeena’ with a view to scribbling a few words about them. It’s obviously been of some interest to me in the past as a few days ago I found a book on my shelf.

Aboriginal Place Names of South-East Australia and Their Meanings by Aldo Massola has library stamps from the now-defunct Moorleigh High School library, it was the room opposite the Moorabbin Toy Library when I belonged to it, the books were all going to be thrown into the tip so a number of us used to browse and pick up good titles, I picked this one up as a title of interest and haven’t looked at it since – give me a break, it’s only been about 20 years. Moorleigh High School was closed down during the Kennett Government and repurposed to house a number of different organisations including the Moorabbin Toy Library and U3A (University of the Third Age, a learning institution for people over the age of 55, could be a while before I get there as I’m only 18). The library was one of the last rooms to be decommissioned, I do wish I’d picked up more books.

Anyway, two entries from the book.

Murrumbeena – after name of native policeman Murrum Murrumbeen, who used to camp there: moss growing on water

and

Lake Wendouree: Wendaaree, be off, or off you go

I’m finding it challenging to find more than a couple of copies of this book for sale despite Massola being such an important person in his field. He rearranged collections at the National Museum of Victoria, some parts to his own home, and rediscovered some invaluable Oenpelli bark paintings that were being used as trestle tables.

If you’re interested in this topic you should also look at A. W. Reed as he was also an important researcher. I have a couple of Reed’s books on Aboriginal Myths and Legends which I’ve lent to a friend. Here’s Reed’s book on Aboriginal Place Names, Reed hasn’t contented himself with south-east Australia but instead has place names from all over Australia. I firmly recommend any of Reed’s books, absolutely fascinating.

I can’t finish these thoughts without mentioning the Koolin people. They are the Aboriginal people of the south-east region, traditional caretakers of this land and as such I’ve taken the liberty of thanking them on the right hand side of this blog. We were at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl Free Concert on Saturday and they acknowledged the Koolin people but I don’t like the word ‘acknowledge’ as in this case it doesn’t cover all that I feel about the Koolin people and how they cared for this land before white man came here. ‘Thanking’ them goes somewhat further but it’s still rather inadequate.