Update on the renaming

The former La Trobe University Bendigo Athletics Complex has now been renamed La Birpa Athletics Complex which means a place to run in the language of the Dja Dja Wurrung.

The City of Greater Bendigo recently received confirmation from the Department of Transport and Planning that the proposed name had met the Naming Rules for Places Victoria statutory requirements, and that the name Lar Birpa Athletics Complex will be gazetted in the Victoria Government Gazette on Thursday January 11, 2024.

The Naming Proposal for Lar Birpa Athletics Complex has been reviewed by Geographic Names Victoria.

It has been reviewed against the Naming rules for places in Victoria – Statutory requirements for naming roads, features and localities – 2022 (Naming Rules) and the appeals that were received against the City’s naming proposal by Geographic Names Victoria.

The City has been advised that the naming proposal is compliant with the Naming Rules. The appeals received did not demonstrate that:

• The naming authority failed to consider the objections during its deliberations; or
• The proposal does not reasonably conform to the Naming Rules.

Once gazetted the site will be officially registered on VICNAMES and known as Lar Birpa Athletics Complex

The previous name for the site, La Trobe University Bendigo Athletics Complex, will be added as a historic reference within the VICNAMES register. This will assist in identification for emergency services should the historic name be used by callers to 000 for emergency purposes.

Lar Birpa means ‘a place to run’ in Dja Dja Wurrung language.

June - August 2023 updates

The City of Greater Bendigo has taken over ownership of Latrobe University Bendigo Athletics Complex.

The City is committed to acknowledging 'Traditional Owners' continued connection to the land and to sharing language where we can through place naming.

After consultation with the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation and Geographic Names Victoria the City of Greater Bendigo is proposing to rename La Trobe University Bendigo Athletics Complex in Retreat Road Lar Birpa Athletics Complex.

The City invited community feedback on the above proposed name from April 24 to May 24. All submissions needed to comply with the Naming Rules for places in Victoria – Statutory requirements for naming roads, features and localities – 2022. To see the update from the feedback process, click on the button below.

A report was presented to Council on the August 28, 2023 and Lar Birpa Athletics Complex was adopted as the final decision.

Council Meeting August 28, 2023

The City of Greater Bendigo will now send the proposal to the Registrar of Geographic Names.

If you previously objected, you have the opportunity to appeal the City of Greater Bendigo’s decision.

All appeals must be made in writing, or sent by mail, to the Registrar of Geographic Names, Geographic Names Victoria, DELWP, PO Box 500, East Melbourne, Victoria 3002 or by email to geo.names@delwp.vic.gov.au

All appeals must be received by September 30, 2023.

An appeal will only be considered if the objector can demonstrate that either:

• The naming authority did not consider the objections during the deliberations
• The proposal does not reasonably conform to the requirements of Naming rules for places in Victoria – Statutory requirements for naming roads, features and localities - 2022

The Naming rules set out step by step information on naming or changing the boundaries of roads, features and localities in Victoria. The Naming rules are the statutory guidelines provided under section 5 of the Geographic Place Names Act 1998.

Please note that Australia Post may continue to record and recognise the old address for a period of six to 12 months to ensure a smooth transition from the old address to the new. However, it should be noted that Australia Post might not guarantee the delivery of incorrectly addressed mail and customers should also use their official address.