As K'gari (Fraser Island) marks 30 years on the World Heritage List, traditional owners welcome the handing over of more land but are frustrated about the delay in permanently changing the island's name.
The world's largest sand island located off the south-east Queensland coast is one of 20 sites in Australia's UNESCO World Heritage listing.
But for traditional owners, there has been more than just the anniversary to celebrate after the state government handed over the title deeds for 670 square metres of land at Eurong, on the eastern side of the island, yesterday.
It comes after more than 22 hectares of land were returned to traditional owners in June.
The title deeds were handed back yesterday during a ceremony on the island.
Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation director Christine Royan welcomed the decision.
"We're arranging with the state government to hopefully get the rest of the blocks of land we've applied for by 2024," Ms Royan said.
"The only thing that is sad today for us is that every time you look at the front [row of the audience], there is less Aunties and Uncles there because they're passing before they can see this beautiful day."
Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon, who was at the event, said it was about recognising First Nations' "ownership" of that land.
"Traditional owners are the original custodians of this land," she said.
"They've been here for thousands and thousands of years, and this is about recognising their ownership of this property."
Reclaiming the name
Ms Scanlon said the government would soon be making a decision about officially changing the island's name.
In 2021, the name of the Fraser Island World Heritage Area was changed to K'gari (Fraser Island) World Heritage Area to acknowledge the Butchulla Peoples' traditional name for the island.
However, for official purposes — including tourism, road signage and maps — the island is still known as Fraser Island.
The state government sought community feedback in August to officially change the island locality's name from Fraser Island to K'gari — meaning "paradise".
Ms Scanlon said there had been "positive feedback" and ultimately it was a matter for the Resource Department.
Butchulla woman Ms Royan said it was disappointing that that milestone was not reached ahead of the 30th-anniversary celebrations.
"We were very disappointed last week when we were told by the government that there had to be a bit more community consultation, but we have been reassured it is coming," she said.
"We understand the hardest part is rebranding because of logos and tourism, but we want to work with them.
"For us, it's always been K'gari."
Tourism sector built on heritage foundations
K'gari was added to the World Heritage List in 1992 for meeting three of the 10 world heritage criteria: it has areas of exceptional beauty, shows major stages of earth's history, and represents significant ongoing ecological and biological processes.
Environmentalists have long been passionate about protecting the popular island.
The island was sand-mined from1949 to 1976, and more recently, bushfires that tore through 87,000 hectares of land in 2020.
King Fisher Bay Resort general manager David Hay said the island's world heritage listing had led to the preservation of the pristine landscapes and rich culture that enticed tourists to the island.
"What the world heritage listing did was ensure that the place will be looked after for generations to come," Mr Hay said.
"The island looks better than it did 30 years ago.
"There's absolutely no doubt in my mind that if this place wasn't world heritage listed, it wouldn't be in such good condition as it is today."
With the pandemic driving a larger domestic market to the resort and the return of international guests, Mr Hay said conservation was the only way to ensure K'gari could continue to be enjoyed by all .
"What people are mostly here to see is just over the hill there — K'gari — it's the best place in the world."
