New changerooms at Thomas Oval will be named Djandoo Mia, meaning ‘home of the whistling kite’.
The changeroom facility was officially announced with a sod turning in February and the building’s name is the next milestone for the facility that will support Kwinana Titans rugby and AIM Archery clubs, along with the wider community.
Council adopted the name on 20 August to set it apart from other facilities on the site and reflect the facility’s location near a registered Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Site of significant cultural and environmental importance.
The name was recommended by the Boola Maara Aboriginal Consultative Committee, with Djandoo Mia holding both spiritual and environmental significance to the Medina area.
Mayor Peter Feasey said Council supported the City’s Naming of Parks, Places and Buildings Working Group resolution not to include the Thomas name in the new facility’s title in accordance with Council’s Naming Policy and Landgate guidelines, which discourage the repetition of existing facility names and prioritise names of local or cultural relevance.
“The adoption of Djandoo Mia will ensure the facility is culturally appropriate, uniquely identifiable and readily distinguishable from other buildings on the reserve,” Mayor Peter Feasey said.
At the Ordinary Council Meeting, Deputy Mayor and Boola Maara chair Barry Winmar said the area was of significance to his family, along with lots of other families in that area, and is a significant place for the nesting of the whistling kite.
Djandoo (pronounced jan-doo) is Nyoongar for ‘whistling kite’ and Mia (pronounced my-ah) means ‘home’.
The project includes refurbishment of the kitchen in the existing nearby Thomas Hall building.
Completion is now expected in May 2026, following the rectification of site conditions.
The project is partly funded a $2.4 million Federal Government Investing In Our Communities grant, committed at the last Election by Federal Member for Brand Madeleine King, with the remainder covered by developer contributions.
Djandoo Mia will include four changerooms, two universally accessible toilets, two dedicated umpires rooms, covered areas for spectators, two storage areas and a kiosk.
