The renaming is part of the ongoing commitment by the Department of Justice to acknowledge traditional meeting places using local Aboriginal language.
At a special Smoking Ceremony to commemorate the new name, Elders told a story about the significance of the land at 585 Hay Street, Perth, on which the ‘Annexe’ was built.
The area, called Kuraree, was a meeting place (Mia) for Whadjuk Noongar families where song and dance would welcome them together to share knowledge (Kaatdijin) while celebrating the land.
The Department’s Aboriginal Justice Transformation Directorate sought advice and worked alongside Aboriginal Elders to choose a name that represents significance to the location.
‘Kuraree Kaatdijin Mia’ represents the initial milestone in the Department’s Renaming Project.
The Renaming Project is being undertaken with the Elders in line with the principles of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and the WA Aboriginal Empowerment Strategy.
The next stages are in progress and include the renaming of meeting rooms on levels 23, 24, and 31 of the David Malcolm Justice Centre, including a family room on Level 23, which the Elders have given the Noongar name Koolyabarak or ‘Magpie Lark’.
In previous years, the Department worked with Professor Len Collard, a Whadjuk Nyungar Traditional Owner to rename our Level 23 staff kitchen area in the David Malcolm Justice Centre ‘Mandalup’ which means ‘gathering place’, and the Esplanade meeting room was renamed Boodier Mya which means ‘Home of Leaders’.
