Sports facility’s First Nations’ name confirmed

WHAT was La Trobe University Bendigo Athletics Complex officially has a new name, Lar Birpa Athletics Complex. 

The City of Greater Bendigo acquired the centre in 2020, and since then there was a process to find it a new name not referencing the university. 

Lar Birpa means ‘a place to run’ in Djadjawurrung, the Dja Dja Wurrung language. 

The proposed name was put out for community feedback in April 2023. 

The name was confirmed by the Department of Transport and Planning to meet the statutory requirements for naming rules for places Victoria, and it was filed in the Victoria Government Gazette on 11 January. 

City of Greater Bendigo’s director of healthy communities and environments Stacy Williams said the name aligned with local government plans. 

“The naming of existing and new City-owned facilities in traditional owner language is in line with the City’s Reconciliation Plan Barpangu 2021-2025, and our strong commitment to supporting Aboriginal place naming and the use of traditional owner language in public spaces across the municipality,” she said. 

Signage with the new name will be put up at the location.