Moreland City Council’s name change could cost ‘millions’ according to councillor

One Melbourne council has voted to change its ‘racist’ name. But there are concerns the decision could cost ratepayers millions.

Residents in a Melbourne council area will have to foot the hefty bill for its name change after the “racist” origins of its original title were revealed.

Moreland City Council, in the city’s progressive inner north, voted six to three in favour of updating the name on Monday night.

The change is expected to set local ratepayers back ratepayers more than $500,000 over the next two years for expenses including signage and websites and bins.

However, independent councillor Oscar Yildiz said the real price could total millions for locals and it was “not the time” for such a change.

Moreland City Council is changing its name. Picture: Josie Hayden

“In the long-term I think it’ll end up costing millions,” he told the Herald Sun.

“The $500,000 is over two years but a lot of that money will go towards consultation.”

The impending change comes after Indigenous elders were among those who flagged councillors of the historic racist links.

Those links relate to Farquhar McCrae, who purchased 600 acres in the area in the 19th century and named it Moreland after his family’s Jamaican plantation, which traded in slaves.