Victoria’s Premier Jacinta Allan has announced an ambitious initiative to celebrate the state’s rich multicultural heritage by renaming over 6,000 roads, parks, and buildings after multicultural leaders.
The announcement was made at the Multicultural Gala Dinner held in Geelong, marking the first time the event was hosted outside Melbourne.
Premier Allan emphasised that less than 1% of Victoria’s roads, parks, and buildings currently bear the names of multicultural leaders, a statistic the government aims to change through a new state-wide campaign.
This new campaign will invite communities across Victoria to nominate local multicultural heroes, ensuring that the state’s diverse history is visibly honoured in the places Victorians use every day.
During the Gala, Premier Allan highlighted the importance of recognising the contributions of migrants, from the Chinese miners of the Gold Rush era to more recent arrivals from Africa, India, Southeast Asia, and Afghanistan.
“Whether you were born here or travelled here, you are just as much a part of our story as any other Victorian.”
Premier Allan said on X:
“And it will send a strong message to every young Victorian: That the history of our state is their history – it’s diverse and it’s multicultural. Whether you were born here or whether you travelled here… You are just as much a part of our story as any other Victorian.”
The renaming initiative is part of Victoria’s broader efforts to acknowledge and celebrate its multicultural heritage. This move, coupled with the launch of Victoria’s first anti-racism strategy, sends a powerful message to all Victorians, particularly the younger generation, that the state’s history is diverse, multicultural, and belongs to everyone.
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