Traditional Place Names

We recognise that Australia always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

Where ever you are in Australia, you are on the lands and waters of Australia's First Peoples. Including Traditional Place Names is one way we can all acknowledge that places are firstly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander places.

Australia Post

In 2021, Australia Post launched address labelling marking traditional place names. The new Australia Post packaging includes a dedicated spot where the Traditional Place Name can be included.

Rachael McPhail: Making Traditional Place names part of mailing addresses

The next time you send a letter or parcel in Australia, consider including the Traditional Place name in the mailing address.

Read more about Rachael McPhail

Find Traditional Place Name

One day there will be an online resource where we can enter a suburb/post code/state that will show the Traditional Place Name.

It's important to note that in some regional areas, a single postcode can extend across a large amount of territory, and a postcode could include the lands of more than one group of traditional owners. For this reason, it is not possible to match postcodes to traditional owners.

How to find a Traditional Place Name

Google "Traditional Place Name + Suburb + State + Post code" - research carefully.

Example: Traditional Place Name Preston Victoria 3072

Google Search: Traditional Place Name Preston Victoria 3072

AustPost - Find A Post Code

At this point in time (2024), AustPost does not show Traditional Place Names with a suburb / post code.

Find A Post Code

Australia Traditional Place Names

Below are the traditional place names of Australia's major cities. Please note this list is not definitive. Alternative place names and alternative spellings may exist.

Importantly, each city is located on the sovereign and unceded Country of First Nations people. In general, acknowledging Country is not the same as using traditional place names. For example, Boorloo is the traditional place name for Perth, but Boorloo is located on Whadjuk Noongar Country.

Mparntwe (Alice Springs)⁠ - Arrernte Country
Tarndanya (Adelaide)⁠ - Kaurna Country
Meanjin/Magandjin (Brisbane)⁠ - Yuggera/Jagera and Turrbal Country
Gimuy (Cairns)⁠ - Yirriganydji and Yidinji Country
Canberra - Ngambri and Ngunnawal Country
Gulumoerrgin (Darwin)⁠ - Larrakia Country
nipaluna (Hobart)⁠ - nipaluna country
Naarm (Melbourne)⁠ - Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung Country
Boorloo (Perth)⁠ - Whadjuk Noongar Country
Warrane/Warrang (Sydney Cove) - Gadigal Country