Bunbury Outer Ring Road (BORR) to be named Wilman Wadandi Highway
The largest road infrastructure project in the South West has just received its official name. Over the weekend, it was announced that the Bunbury Outer Ring Road project will be named the Wilman Wadandi Highway when it opens.
Published: 07 October 2024, Updated: 07 October 2024
The name honours the Wilman and Wadandi people, who have historically occupied the lands at either end of the project. Since February 2021, extensive consultation on the name has been underway with the project’s Aboriginal Heritage Advisory Group, Local Government Authorities, the Noongar Language Centre and Landgate.
Names play an important role in identifying the place, its stories and the history that surrounds it. Additionally, through this process, Aboriginal names for sections of the Collie, Preston and Ferguson Rivers have been identified and names have also been allocated for four local bridges within the project.
Bridge Names:
Djilba Bridge – located at the Wilman Wadandi Highway/Clifton Road/Paris Road Interchange, has been named after the artwork on the bridge and represents the Noongar season of spring.
Booyi Bridge – located at the Wilman Wadandi Highway/Raymond Road Interchange, has been named after the artwork on the bridge, and with the word ‘Booyi’ being the Noongar word for the Long Neck Turtle.
May Holman Bridge – located at the Wilman Wadandi Highway/South Western Highway Interchange, is named after ‘May Holman’ who was Australia’s first female Labor parliamentarian, Member for Forrest in the South West and a member of the WA Legislative Assembly from 1925-39.
Boolyalla Bridge – located at the Wilman Wadandi Highway/Bussell Highway Interchange, is named after the artwork on the bridge, with “Boolyalla” being the Noongar word for Banksia.
River Names:
Dual naming aims to represent both Aboriginal and European heritage.
Bilya Maardalup – Collie River, south of the Raymond Road Interchange. Bilya is the Noongar word for river. Maardalup is the Noongar word meaning the place to cross the river where the water comes up to your legs.
Bilya Dardaliny – Ferguson River near Martin-Pelusey Road and Boyanup-Picton Road. Dardaliny is the Noongar word meaning place of mourning.
Bilya Barajilup – Preston River, where it crosses the new Willinge Drive extension and the existing BORR Central Stage 1 works. The name Barajilup was identified during consultation with the project’s Aboriginal Heritage Advisory Group members and a Noongar Language specialist. It reflects the historical significance of the Preston River, as the name has been consistently recognised by multiple sources within the Noongar community.
Wilman Wadandi Highway Sign
Page last reviewed: | Last updated: