A proud Dharawal family see their ancestor honoured in southern Sydney.
When a Sutherland Shire primary school posted to social media about naming a Kirrawee reserve after a respected Aboriginal grandmother and elder, nearly 900 people gave it a thumbs up.
Ultimately, more than 1700 locals got behind the name. Community members used words like 'deadly', 'amazing', 'proud' and 'wonderful' and rushed to vote.
Biddy Giles Park was born.
During consultation one community member said: “Biddy was a storyteller of the Dreamtime, which is how my culture learns – through storytelling… there isn’t many places in the Sutherland Shire named after strong, notable Aboriginal people.”
Biddy Giles (1810-1888) was a Dharawal woman, born in the southern Illawarra.
Giles, a storyteller of the Dreaming, had extensive knowledge of Dharawal land – from the south side of the Georges River to Wollongong – taking in the Sutherland Shire, where the reserve sits, and where many of her descendants live.
Also known as Biyarung, Giles often acted as a guide for travellers on hunting and fishing expeditions during the 1860s, because of her knowledge of the land and waterways and bush tucker cooking. The men wrote of her impressive control of her hunting dogs.
One local community member who joined in consultation said: “I would like to see this important historical figure recognised not only for her work as an Indigenous person, but also for being a woman.”
Surveyor-General Narelle Underwood says: "Officially assigning the name Biddy Giles Park is a significant step in recognising both First Nations people and women in place naming.
"By honouring Biddy Giles, we acknowledge her deep connection to the land and her role in the community, while also addressing the broader importance of celebrating the contributions of Aboriginal women in our shared history.
"This naming reflects a commitment to inclusivity and ensures that the cultural heritage of First Nations people, particularly the stories of strong women like Biddy Giles, is preserved and recognised for future generations."
Commemorative naming is a way for the community to honour local people that have made valuable contributions to the local area. The GNB is committed to acknowledging Aboriginal culture as a way to unlock past stories, preserve traditions, and foster a sense of belonging and identity.
Giles' story is an incredible window to the past. She was one of the last Aboriginal people to fluently speak Dharawal (the local) dialect. Her father and uncle are said to have witnessed James Cook's landing in 1770.
The park, at 45 Flora Street Kirrawee, is next to South Village shopping centre. Its name was celebrated at a ceremony attended by some of Giles' descendents.
The consultation process took in local council stakeholders including Sutherland Shire residents and local Aboriginal groups. In this case, 81% of the 2200 submissions received were in favour of naming the park after Giles. It had one of the highest participation rates in council history, according to the St George and Sutherland Shire Leader.
The GNB asked its Board for endorsement, put it out to the wider NSW community and, once it was supported, updated the official NSW mapping database and Geographical Names Register.
Today, Biddy Giles Park is a welcoming hub for all, with a flying fox, handball and hopscotch zones, basketball hoop, and fixed concrete table tennis tables.
To learn more about commemorative naming, visit how places are named. To have your say on future names, visit current proposals.
Sources: Indigenous Australia, Sutherland Shire Council and St George and Sutherland Shire Leader newspaper.
