'Uncomfortable and very wrong': Melbourne council likely to change name after discovering ties to slavery

A Melbourne council will likely change its name after finding out it stems from a Jamaican slave estate.

Moreland City Council in Melbourne's Inner North will discuss a name change at its council meeting on December 8 after Elders from the Traditional Owners community drew the council's attention to the history of the name last week.

According to the council, the land between Moonee Ponds Creek and Sydney Road was named 'Moreland' by Farquhar McCrae after he acquired it in 1839.

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It is believed he named the land 'Moreland' after a Jamaican slave estate his father and grandfather operated.

The land was sold to him without the permission of the traditional owners, leading to them being suddenly dispossessed from their land.

In 1994 the local government areas of the City of Brunswick, the City of Moreland and part of Broadmeadows were amalgamated and the State Government named the new local government area Moreland.

Moreland Mayor Mark Riley said the council was "shocked and deeply saddened" to learn about the roots of the name.

"The history behind the naming of this area is painful, uncomfortable and very wrong. It needs to be addressed," he said.

"Moreland stands firmly against racism, we are one community, proudly diverse. Council is committed to working with Wurundjeri people and we take the request very seriously."

Cr Riley said any new name would be developed after a full consultation process with the Moreland community and that ultimately, the State Government would have to make the change.

"This important issue aligns with our commitment to reconciliation and human rights. In October 2021, Council signed a Statement of Commitment to Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung People and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities of the City of Moreland," he said.

"This commitment sets out our vision for reconciliation," he said.

The council said that it was not proposing to consider renaming of any other features such as schools or roads.

Discussion at the council meeting will include beginning a community engagement process to determine a new name for Moreland City Council.