Dept of Climate Change, Energy, Environment & Water
World’s Largest Sand Island Regains Traditional Name
The world’s largest sand island now has its traditional name, K’gari, officially associated with its global recognition as a World Heritage site, paying respect to the Butchulla people who have been connected to the island for more than 60,000 years.
The significant milestone was marked during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in France, after Australia made a formal request for the name change to K’gari from Fraser Island.
Stretching more than 120 kilometres along the southern coast of Queensland and covering 1,840 km2, the world’s largest sand island was first added to the World Heritage List as ‘Fraser Island’ in December 1992.
The exceptional site is known for its shifting sand-dunes, majestic tropical rainforests and freshwater lakes.
K’gari is associated with the Butchulla people’s creation story, which explains how the island and surrounding lands were formed.
The silent ‘K’ reflects the Traditional Owners’ interpretation of spelling the place name using the English alphabet.
This important recognition is in keeping with the Butchulla Traditional Owners’ wishes for the traditional name for the island to be restored, and reflects the formal name change by the Queensland Government in 2023.
Australia now has 21 properties on the World Heritage List, including the newly listed Murujuga Cultural Landscape in the Pilbara, along with Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and the Great Barrier Reef.
Minister for the Environment and Water Murray Watt said the name change pays respect to the thousands of years of Butchulla tradition that have come before and will continue into the future.
“The Albanese Government proudly recognises that this is an important act of recognition and reconciliation with the Butchulla people, the Traditional Owners of K’gari.
“As a Queenslander, I know that K’gari is one of the most loved islands across Australia and the world.
“This is a momentous day for everyone connected to this sacred island and it was my honour to be there to witness it.”
https://minister.dcceew.gov.au/watt/media-releases/traditional-name-restored-worlds-largest-sand-island