May 21st, 2023‘Speaking to Country in the most beautiful way’: creek renaming now gazetted

Geographic Names Victoria formally gazetted the renaming of the Jim Crow Creek to Larni Barramal Yaluk in the Victorian Government Gazette last week.

The Creek is a 26km long ephemeral creek, draining 123 square km of country, formed by the confluence of Sailors Creek and Spring Creek at Breakneck Gorge in Hepburn Regional Park, two kilometres north-west of Hepburn. 

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Hepburn Shire Council had worked with the community and project partners Mount Alexander Shire Council, North Central Catchment Management Authority and DJAARA to campaign for the renaming of the creek over many years.

Hepburn Shire mayor, Cr Brian Hood, said the decision by Geographic Names Victoria was “most welcomed”.

“The term Jim Crow has its origins in racial segregation and anti-black racism and is therefore unacceptable. Larni Barramal Yaluk, which means home or habitat of the Emu Creek, reconnects the landscape with Dja Dja Wurrung culture and language,” said Cr Hood.

“This change ties in with Council’s ongoing reconciliation and recognition work. We are very pleased the creek is now formally renamed.”

Dja Dja Wurrung Group CEO Rodney Carter commented on the importance of the name change. 

“This creek has an identity and has a spirit. We are at last affording it the respect it deserves by giving back its name, to now say its name is speaking to Country in the most beautiful way,” Mr Carter said.

Hepburn Shire Council and Mount Alexander Shire Council had both determined to request Geographic Names Victoria to rename the creek at their Ordinary Council Meetings in April last year.