Is it Fraser, K'gari or Gari?

FRASER Island may now officially have three names, but tourism operators believe using all of them could lead to an identity crisis.

FRASER Island may now officially have three names, but tourism operators believe using all of them could lead to an identity crisis.

The island will still be known as Fraser Island, but the names K’gari and Gari have been added to official documents by the Department of Environment and Resource Management.

Charlie Buckets booking agency owner Stuart Taylor welcomed the formal acceptance of the name K’gari, but said it would be too confusing to market the island with two indigenous names and one European one.

“We would promote it as K’gari with one spelling, as we do now,” Mr Taylor said.

He said he already sold items emblazoned with K’gari, meaning paradise, as well as the European name, but could not see a market in adding items branded with Gari.

“Once you explain the name K’gari to people, nine out of 10 choose to buy that item rather than one that says Fraser Island,” he said.

“For me, it’s just a matter of choosing one spelling (K’gari or Gari) and using it because otherwise it gets too complicated.”

Fraser Coast councillor and Tourism Fraser Coast chair Anne Nioa said as both indigenous names were pronounced as “gurri”, she felt it was fair to use only one spelling.

“It is just a spelling issue,but I think it would be less confusing to only call it Fraser Island or K’gari, when trying to drive tourism in the region,” she said.

She said it was wonderful to have the name endorsed, as it would help drive the market for indigenous tourism.

Tourism Fraser Coast chief executive officer Damien Massingham said most marketing material already made use of the name K’gari, because the meaning — paradise — was a tourist drawcard.

“It’s got really strong market appeal, so I think we will continue to take the same approach and market it as Fraser Island and K’gari,” he said.

Originally published as Is it Fraser, K'gari or Gari?