The Guildford townsite now welcomes visitors with new entry signs that acknowledge its rich and diverse history and promote the area as a tourism destination.
Member for Midland, Hon Michelle Roberts MLA unveiled the signs at an official ceremony on Friday, March 18 2022.
Located at the townsite’s five main entry points, the signs include ‘Mandoon’, the name originally given to the area by Traditional Custodians, meaning ‘place of many trees’.
City of Swan Mayor David Lucas said the signage represents a dual naming initiative to honour both the Aboriginal and European settlement history of the area.
“Guildford is a significant area for the Traditional Custodians of this land, the Whadjuk Noongar people, who have made this area their home for tens of thousands of years. Their ties to this area remain to this day,” said Mayor Lucas.
The signs features imagery of the Wagyl, a snake or rainbow serpent, which is recognised as the giver of life by Noongar people and is central to their beliefs and customs.
The Wagyl image was designed by Whadjuk Noongar artist Walter McGuire.
The signs also note that Guildford was established as a townsite in 1829 and is one of the original settlement towns of the Swan River Colony.
The significance of Guildford in European history was recently acknowledged by the State Heritage Office through an official listing of the town site on the State Heritage Register.
Altone Ward Councillor Andrew Kiely wished to acknowledge the support of Hon Michelle Roberts MLA, in funding the Guildford Association to deliver this project in cooperation with the City of Swan.
“The new entry signs were developed in consultation with the community and the Guildford Association, as part of strategy to support heritage and cultural tourism in the area,” Cr Kiely said.
“The signs will create a welcoming and educational introduction for visitors to Guildford, enriching their understanding of this popular tourism destination.”
The new entry signs were funded by the State Government as part of the Local Projects, Local Jobs program.
