Call to rename Queensland places linked to pro-slavery figures

Hundreds of people have called for QLD cities and towns to be renamed if they are linked to British figures who had pro-slavery views.

Hundreds of people have signed a petition calling for Queensland cities and towns that are named after historical figures that held pro-slavery views to be renamed.

The petition, which was signed by 393 people, called on the Queensland parliament to turn its attention to parts of the state “that have been named after British aristocrats and politicians who were slave traders or pro-slavery in their public life”.

All the places linked to figures who were favour of slavery or voted against the slavery abolition laws introduced in Britain in the early part of the 19th century should be renamed, the petitioners said.

“The first to be considered should be Russell Island named for Lord Russell who voted against slavery abolition,” the petition read.

The petition suggested Russell Island should be the first place to be renamed.

Townsville, Mackay, Gladstone, McIlwraith and the Division of Dickson are just some parts of the state that could also be up for renaming.

Each of these locations are named after figures that either supported slavery or blackbirding, which describes the practice of coercing or kidnapping people to work as labourers away from their native land.

In a response, which was tabled in parliament on Monday, Natural Resources Minister Anthony Lynham said the Queensland government had been removing the “racist” names of places and landmarks over the past few years.

“I am aware that some place names chosen in the past might not be considered appropriate today,” he wrote.

“In recent years the department has been removing racist names that are clearly inappropriate.”

Townsville could also be up for renaming. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Over the past year the department reinstated the Indigenous names of two mountains in the Rockhampton area, with Jim Crow Mountain now called Baga and Mount Wheeler now named Gai-i.

Mr Lynham said the previous name of the mountains served as a “hurtful reminder of colonial history”.

“It is important to remember that regardless of their origins, any place name changes need to be thoroughly considered,” Mr Lynham wrote.

He asked the petitioners to consider the information about renaming available on the department’s website.

“If they still wish to make a naming suggestion they should provide more information about the suggestion, as detailed on the website,” Mr Lynham wrote.

Originally published as Call to rename Queensland places linked to pro-slavery figures