Damon Mcknight
K'gari, formerly known as Fraser Island, is a World Heritage-listed sand island located off the east coast of Australia in the Wide Bay–Burnett region of Queensland. The island's traditional name, K'gari, means 'paradise' in the native tongue of the Butchulla People, who are the Traditional Owners of the island and have inhabited it for thousands of years. In 2021, the World Heritage Committee officially changed the name from Fraser Island to K'gari, and as of June 2023, the island has been officially renamed K'gari.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Traditional Name | K'gari |
| Former Name | Fraser Island |
| Current Official Name | K'gari |
| Location | Fraser Coast of Queensland, Australia |
| Traditional Owners | Butchulla People |
| Population | 152 (as per the 2021 census) |
| Visitors | Up to 500,000 per year |
| Length | 123 km (76 mi) |
| Width | 22 km (14 mi) |
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What You'll Learn
- K'gari, formerly Fraser Island, is located off the east coast of Australia
- The island was originally called K'gari by its Traditional Owners, the Butchulla People
- In 2021, the World Heritage Committee changed the name from Fraser Island to K'gari
- The name Fraser Island is controversial due to Eliza Fraser's negative narratives about the native Butchulla People
- K'gari means 'paradise' in the native tongue of the Butchulla People
K'gari, formerly Fraser Island, is located off the east coast of Australia
The island is part of the traditional lands of the Butchulla people, who are the indigenous Australians and Traditional Owners of the island. They have inhabited K'gari for thousands of years, with evidence suggesting their presence on the island up to 50,000 years ago. The Butchulla people refer to the island as K'gari, which means 'paradise' in their native tongue.
The island was renamed Fraser Island in 1836 after Captain James Fraser, master of the Stirling Castle, who was shipwrecked and died on the island that year. Captain Fraser's wife, Eliza Fraser, was also shipwrecked and later spread negative narratives about how the Butchulla people treated her. These narratives led to the mistreatment and displacement of the Butchulla people.
In 2021, the World Heritage Committee officially renamed the island K'gari, recognising the importance of the Butchulla people's traditional name and their connection to the land. The name change is a significant step forward in acknowledging and respecting the indigenous culture and history of the island.
K'gari is a popular tourist destination, attracting up to 500,000 visitors each year. The island boasts a thriving tourism industry, offering various tours and activities, including 4WD adventures, guided tours, camping, and nature walks. Visitors can explore the island's diverse landscapes, cultural sites, and natural attractions, such as the Great Sandy National Park, which includes the island and its surrounding waters.
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The island was originally called K'gari by its Traditional Owners, the Butchulla People
The island of K'gari, formerly known as Fraser Island, is located off the coast of Queensland, Australia. It is a World Heritage-listed sand island in the Wide Bay–Burnett region, lying approximately 250 km (160 mi) north of Brisbane.
In the late 1700s to 1800s, European settlers arrived in Australia and began to colonise the land. Despite the mistreatment and disregard they faced at the hands of the colonists, the Butchulla People always referred to the island as K'gari. Captain James Cook, who is believed to have been the first settler to lay eyes on the island in 1770, observed in his journal that the land appeared barren and sandy. However, he did not realise that the island was separated from the mainland by the Great Sandy Strait.
The island was renamed Fraser Island in 1836 after Captain James Fraser, master of the Stirling Castle, which was shipwrecked near the island. Captain Fraser and his wife, Eliza Fraser, were among the survivors who made their way to the island. Unfortunately, Captain Fraser died, and Eliza Fraser's negative narratives about how the Butchulla people treated her led to much of their subsequent slaughter, displacement, and mistreatment.
In recent years, there has been a push to reinstate the traditional name of K'gari. In 2011, the alternative names K'gari and Gari were recorded in the Queensland Place Names Database. Finally, in 2021, the World Heritage Committee officially changed the name back to K'gari, recognising the importance of respecting the land's Traditional Owners and their history. The name change represents a significant step forward in acknowledging the indigenous culture and traditions that have shaped the island into what it is today.
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In 2021, the World Heritage Committee changed the name from Fraser Island to K'gari
K'gari, formerly known as Fraser Island, is a World Heritage-listed sand island located off the east coast of Australia, in the Wide Bay–Burnett region of Queensland. The island is part of the traditional lands of the Butchulla people, who have inhabited it for thousands of years.
In 2021, the World Heritage Committee officially changed the name of the island from Fraser Island to K'gari, the traditional name used by the Butchulla people. This change was made for the Queensland National Parks records and the World Heritage Sites records. The name "Fraser Island" was recognised as controversial due to its association with Australia's dark colonial past and the negative narratives of Eliza Fraser, who, along with her husband, Captain James Fraser, was shipwrecked on the island in 1836.
The Butchulla people have a strong commitment to reinstating the island's traditional name, and the name change is an important step in recognising their history and culture. K'gari means "paradise" in the native tongue of the Butchulla people, and the island is considered sacred to them. The process of renaming the island began in 2011 when the alternative names K'gari and Gari were recorded in the Queensland Place Names Database.
The island has a rich history and is known for its natural beauty. It attracts up to 500,000 visitors each year and offers a range of tourism experiences, including 4WD adventures, guided tours, camping, and nature walks. The island is approximately 123 km long and 22 km wide, and it lies about 250 km north of Brisbane, the state capital.
The renaming of K'gari is a significant step towards honouring the Traditional Owners of the land and recognising the important histories of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It is a move towards reconciliation and a more inclusive future, respecting the indigenous culture and traditions that have shaped the island into what it is today.
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The name Fraser Island is controversial due to Eliza Fraser's negative narratives about the native Butchulla People
The world's largest sand island, Fraser Island, was known as K'gari (meaning 'paradise') by the Indigenous Butchulla people. In 1836, Scotswoman Eliza Fraser, wife of Captain James Fraser, was shipwrecked on the island. She later recounted a negative and false tale of her "captivity" by the Butchulla people, whom she called "savages" and "cannibals". Eliza's story, though contradicted by fellow survivors, spread throughout the English colony and contributed to the spread of negative stereotypes about Indigenous Australians.
Eliza and her husband were among 18 crew and passengers on board the Stirling Castle, which was holed on coral while travelling through the Great Barrier Reef. The crew abandoned the ship and set off in two lifeboats, heading south towards Moreton Bay (now Brisbane). Eliza, possibly pregnant, gave birth in the water, and her infant drowned. The Captain's boat began to sink, and the second lifeboat, with the remaining crew, soon left them behind. Eliza's boat washed up on the island, then known as Great Sandy Island, and her husband died, leaving her and the second mate, Mr Baxter, living among the Butchulla people.
Eliza claimed she was captured by the Badtjala people, and that her husband died of starvation or his injuries. She also alleged that the Badtjala were cannibals. However, her claims were disputed by other survivors of the shipwreck, some of whom had previously been helped by the Badtjala. According to Badtjala oral history, Eliza was considered a "mad woman". Despite this, her story gained traction, and she later capitalised on it by sharing sensationalised accounts of her experience in London.
Eliza Fraser's narrative had severe consequences for the Indigenous Butchulla people. It led to their massacre and dispossession from their land. For almost 200 years, the island was known as Fraser Island, named after Captain James Fraser. However, in 2023, the island's name was officially changed back to K'gari, recognising the traditional owners and correcting a historic wrong. The name change was celebrated by the Butchulla people, who had campaigned for decades to reinstate the island's Indigenous name.
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K'gari means 'paradise' in the native tongue of the Butchulla People
K'gari, formerly known as Fraser Island, is a World Heritage-listed sand island along the southeastern coast in the Wide Bay–Burnett region of Queensland, Australia. The island is part of the traditional lands of the Butchulla people, who are the indigenous Australians and have inhabited the island for thousands of years. The Butchulla people are the traditional owners and custodians of K'gari.
The name K'gari means 'paradise' in the Butchulla language. The Butchulla people have been the owners and guardians of the land since well before the days of European colonization and settlement. The island was originally called K'gari by its traditional owners, but it was renamed Fraser Island by European settlers in 1847 after Captain James Fraser, master of Stirling Castle, who was shipwrecked and died on the island in 1836.
In 2021, the World Heritage Committee changed the name from Fraser Island back to K'gari, the original title. This name change recognizes and honors the Butchulla people and their traditions, culture, and ongoing connection to the country. The Butchulla people have helped shape the island into what it is today through their management and cultural practices.
The Butchulla language does not have a written culture, so other names that could be used to describe this civilization include Badjala, Badjula, Badjela, Bajellah, Badtjala, and Budjilla. The Butchulla people were granted Native Title rights to Fraser Island in 2014, and they have been the rightful custodians of K'gari for tens of thousands of years. Their connection to K'gari is continuing and contemporary and is linked to their supreme ancestral beings.
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Frequently asked questions
The Australian island known as 'Ki' to locals is K'gari.
K'gari is pronounced 'Gah-ree' or Gurri.
K'gari was previously known as Fraser Island, named after Captain James Fraser, master of the Stirling Castle, who was shipwrecked and died on the island in 1836.
The island was renamed in 2021 by the World Heritage Committee, out of respect for the Traditional Owners of the island, the Butchulla/Butchella People, who have called it K'gari for thousands of years.
