Galup Reserve: Whadjuk Noongar name officially restored
We are so pleased to share that Whadjuk Noongar name Galup – meaning “place where the home fires burn” – has officially been restored!
Following formal endorsement by the Geographic Names Committee, an independent advisory body to Landgate and the Minister for Lands, the change was made and led by The Town of Cambridge.
Whadjuk Noongar woman Glenda Kickett said is a positive step in the journey to reconciliation.
“I’d like to see the State Government and also Federal Government take more of a lead with these sort of things, where First Nations, cultures and languages and places of significance are recognised and acknowledged in the forefront, not at the back.”
SPACED has been privileged to take a role in commissioning the development of the collaborative storytelling project “Galup” led by Ian Wilkes and Poppy van Oorde-Grainger (Same Drum) in 2019. This project then went on to become a hugely successfully performance and virtual reality touring program supported by many organisations including Perth Festival, WA Museum, and Art on The Move.
The reinstatement of the name was a massive community effort. The following people are acknowledged to have an input on the project by Same Drum:
“Huge heartfelt respect and gratitude to the Elders who guided this journey; Nan Doolann-Leisha Eatts (RIP), Aunty Elizabeth Hayden, Aunty Glenda Kickett, Aunty Lois May, Uncle Darryl Kickett, Uncle Ted Wilkes and all the other Elders that have pushed for this for years!
And thanks to all the supporters and orgs who helped made this change happen especially Ian Wilkes, Poppy van Oorde-Grainger, Walter Eatts, Samuel-Yombich Pilot-Kickett, Bec Garlett, Ash Garlett Penfold, Nigel, Alice, Mark, Della, Jayden, Calven, Elena, Maitland, Clint, Kylie, Iggy, Rach, Jen, Katherine, Soula, Marco, Helen, Luci, Ric, Lawrie, Nick, Jem, Bec, Chris, Alex, Suz, Tarsh, Steph, Martin, Rach, Jodie, Zoe, Lawrie, Ezra, Ash, Katie, Kobi, Tim, Josh, Ali, Kirby, Mitch, Shaz, Pauline, Same Drum, Town of Cambridge, City of Vincent, Performing Lines WA, Perth Festival, WA Museum Boola Bardip Spaced, Viewport XR, Sandbox, Community Arts Network, Museum of Freedom and Tolerance, Friends of Galup-Lake Monger, The Flower District West Leederville, ART ON THE MOVE, Lake Monger Recreation Club, White Spark Pictures History Council of Western Australia, Kate Chaney MP, Christine Tonkin, Reconciliation WA, Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, Creative Australia and Lotterywest.”
Image: SPACED: Know Thy Neighbour #2, Galup (, Ian Wilkes, Poppy van Oorde-Grainger and Doolann-Leisha Eatts (Garlett), 2019, image by Ian Grant.
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SPACED is supported by West Australian Government, through the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, and the Commonwealth Government through Creative Australia.
Explore our past programs
Know Thy Neighbour #3 (2021-23). Know Thy Neighbour #3 investigates notions of place, sites of interest, networks, and social relationships with partner communities.
Rural Utopias (2019-23). Rural Utopias is a program of residencies, exhibitions and professional development activities organised in partnership with 12 Western Australian rural and remote towns.
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