2022

First Nations names have been given to Bondi Pavilion spaces as a part of its conservation and restoration. The words are drawn from the Dharawal language, the overarching language spoken by the Aboriginal people of Coastal Sydney.

The Pavilion's central atrium, opened to the sky by Tonkin Zulaikha Greer's redesign, is named 'Mirrar’, using the Dharawal term for 'above and sky'.

The courtyards are renamed Garu (Dharawal for ‘northern’) and ‘Guya’ (Dharawal for ‘southern’).

The Pavilion balcony overlooking the beach is called 'Nandiri', which is Dharawal for 'look and see'.

A new flexible cultural space, designed for a range of activities, is named the ‘Yalagang’ room, which is Dharawal for 'rejoice’.

The naming process was led by the Gujaga Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that is part of the La Perouse Aboriginal Community Alliance. The Gujaga Foundation leads language, cultural and research activities in collaboration with local Elders, senior knowledge holders and leading academics.

The Dharawal language was spoken by Aboriginal people from Sydney Harbour to the Shoalhaven. It is also the name for the cabbage tree palm, which is the overarching spirit ancestor (totem) for people speaking and belonging to the Dharawal language group.

In traditional culture, many variants of the language were spoken within the area. Clan groups such as the Gadigal, Birrabirragal, Bidjigal and Gweagal all spoke Dharawal, the overarching language belonging to their cultural area.

Use of Indigenous languages was banned for much of white settlement, but language reclamation studies are seeing many revived. Dharawal is being taught to children in schools and early learning centres within the Dharawal cultural area.

In late 2021, the Gujaga Foundation launched the free Dharawal Language and Culture App, developed to preserve connection to Country, capture cultural knowledge for future generations and share the language with the wider community.

Courtesy the Gujaga Foundation.