Traditional name for GovHub space

IN a first for the region, Ballarat’s GovHub is officially recognising the Traditional Owners of the land by naming a section of the building after Catobeen, a Wadawurrung ancestor.

With the project on track for completion in March 2021, the ground floor gathering area is set to take on the name, The Catobeen Building, and be used as a community space for food, music and art.

Representing her family, Wadawurrung woman Dr Deanne Gilson said they are very proud to have a building named after an ancestor and traditional owner.

“Catobeen was known as Queen Mary of Ballarat and she was married to King Billy, my ancestor,” she said. “I’m very proud, it’s a huge honour and a starting point for reconciliation for my people.”

Alongside Dr Gilson, Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison and Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle joined CEO of Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation Paul Davis, representatives from Kane Nicholson and future tenets to view the space.

“There’s nothing more fitting than to acknowledge the role of our traditional owners,” Ms Addison said.

“We have decided as a community and as a government that we are going to name the new public space in the Ballarat GovHub, Catobeen.

“This is a special day for recognising the past and building on the future.”