Fremantle's new civic building and library named Walyalup Civic Centre

The City of Fremantle’s new civic building and library in Kings Square has officially been named the Walyalup Civic Centre.

At a meeting last night Fremantle Council agreed to the name in recognition of the Traditional Owners of Fremantle and in the spirit of the City’s Reconciliation Action Plan.

Walyalup is the traditional Whadjuk Nyoongar name for the geographic location of Fremantle.

Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt said the Walyalup Civic Centre was an appropriate name for the City’s new home.

“One of the actions in the Walyalup Reconciliation Action Plan endorsed by the council in July last year was to identify opportunities for the naming or co-naming of locations, streets and parks in and around Fremantle,” Mayor Pettitt said.

“The WRAP also seeks to introduce significant symbols of, and information about, Whadjuk culture and history as part of the Kings Square redevelopment.

“The new civic building and library is going to be a magnificent facility for the whole community to use and enjoy.

“I’m really pleased that it will also celebrate the history and culture of the Whadjuk Nyoongar people and recognise their traditional ownership of the Walyalup area.”

The council also agreed to initiate a community engagement process on the possible renaming of Kings Square.

The process will canvas community opinion on potential names that have already been identified through consultation with South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council’s Whadjuk Working Party and the City’s WRAP working group.

It will also provide the opportunity for Fremantle residents to contribute their own naming suggestions, with the condition that they generate a sense of civic pride, are directly relevant to Fremantle and are likely to stand the test of time.

Details of the community engagement process and how people can provide their feedback will be announced soon.