And it will be called … Albert Street station

Brisbane’s new underground CBD train station will be known as Albert Street station when it opens, amid a difference of opinion over how to spell and pronounce the Indigenous name Meanjin.

The under-construction Albert Street train station will be operational once Cross River rail is completed in 2026, making it the first new station for the CBD in more than 120 years.

The state government asked the public to vote on a potential new name, with four options provided - Albert Street, Brisbane City, City Botanic Gardens and Frog’s Hollow - and other suggestions accepted.

An artist’s impression of the new Albert Street station. Credit: CRRDA Design

Robert Dow, from public transport advocacy group Rail Back on Track, had pushed to name the station Meanjin – one version of the First Nations’ name for the land on which Brisbane was built – after Sydney’s Pitt Street metro station was named Gadigal.

His suggestion garnered significant support and the government received hundreds of detailed submissions for a name that included Meanjin.

But consultation with traditional owners revealed differences in opinion over the spelling, provenance and pronunciation of an Indigenous name for Brisbane, the state government said.

The Brisbane Festival adopted the spelling Maganjin for its drone show earlier this month.Credit: Rosanna Ryan, Brisbane Times

Meanjin is one popular spelling of the name, although the FIFA Women’s World Cup used the spelling Meaanjin last year. The Brisbane Festival adopted the spelling Maganjin in its night drone show earlier this month.

“Until such time as this can be clarified, the government feels it would be inappropriate to take the idea forward,” the government said in a statement on Monday.

“Recognising this sensitivity, the station name will be left as Albert Street for now.”

Transport Minister Bart Mellish said it was important not to rush any decision “until we have clarity around the spelling”.

He noted there was also support for renaming Central Station as Anzac Square station.

Defence force veterans have been consulted on the proposal, but further discussion was needed, Mellish said. The federal government would also need to approve the use of the term Anzac.

Robert Dow from Rail Back on Track said he was pleased the government had recognised support for naming the new station Meanjin.

“It would be a good thing, if down the track, the incoming state government continued to liaise with traditional owners about the name,” Dow said.

“It would be lovely to have a station called Meanjin … Sydney has had no problem with Gadigal.”

Dow said Central Station could be renamed Anzac Central to avoid confusion and make it reflect its geographical location.

This is not the first time Dow has pushed for change to the names of public transport infrastructure. After his recent advocacy for Park Road station to be renamed as Boggo Road, the name changed with little fanfare in August.

The LNP has proposed the Cross River Rail extension be named the Elizabeth Line in honour of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

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