Located along Australia’s famous East Coast, approximately 200 kms north of Brisbane Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world, world heritage listed and the only place where the rainforest grows on sand!
Having been home to the Butchulla people for over 5000 years I was there for a very important day in 2014 when an important battle in the campaign to re name the island back to its original name formally restored.
K’gari – Literally, “paradise”
Almost everyone you are likely to speak to won’t of even heard of this word, Unfortunately it will be a slow process for the Butchulla community before this becomes the common name. Quite like Uluru (the more commonly know Ayers Rock) has been dealing with since it was granted duel name status to recognise the importance to the Aboriginal people back in 1993.
The name ‘Fraser Island’ came about after a Scottish woman, Eliza Fraser shipwrecked upon the island and consequently told “tales of captivity” by the Butchulla’s in the 1830’s which due to the nature of the claims led to the massacre of the islands inhabitants and tribes.
So you can see why this is very important for the Butchulla’s and Aborigines of Fraser Island and Australia for this name to be brought back into the common use. So for this reason I ask when posting blog’s about the island and pictures to use the #K’gari let help get the word out there.
Agent K Abroad 