Instructions
Hello Historian! Today, we are going to travel back in time to discover the special meaning behind the name of a city in Western Australia called Mandurah. Read the information below and complete the fun activities!
The Story of a Name
Long before modern buildings and roads, the land where the city of Mandurah now stands was home to the Indigenous Noongar people. They have lived on this land for tens of thousands of years and have a deep connection to it.
The name "Mandurah" comes from a Noongar word, "Mandjar". This word has a very beautiful meaning. It is often translated as a "meeting place of the heart". It can also mean a "trading place".
For the Noongar people, it was a very important area where different family groups would come together to meet, to trade goods like tools and food, and to hold ceremonies. It was a place of community and connection, truly a "meeting place of the heart"!
Activity 1: Fill in the Blanks
Use the words from the word bank below to complete the sentences. You will not use all the words.
Word Bank: city, Mandjar, trading, heart, Noongar, ocean, place
- The name Mandurah comes from the language of the ______________ people.
- The original word for Mandurah is believed to be ______________.
- One meaning of the name is a "meeting ______________ of the ______________".
- It was also an important ______________ place for different groups.
Activity 2: Word Scramble
Unscramble these important words from the text you just read!
- cealp = ______________
- treah = ______________
- gntimee = ______________
- argnoon = ______________
Activity 3: Draw Your Own Meeting Place
The name Mandurah means "meeting place of the heart." What does a special meeting place look like to you? In the box below, draw a picture of your own "meeting place of the heart." It could be a real place or an imaginary one!
(Draw your picture here)
Answer Key
Activity 1: Fill in the Blanks
- The name Mandurah comes from the language of the Noongar people.
- The original word for Mandurah is believed to be Mandjar.
- One meaning of the name is a "meeting place of the heart".
- It was also an important trading place for different groups.
Activity 2: Word Scramble
- cealp = PLACE
- treah = HEART
- gntimee = MEETING
- argnoon = NOONGAR
Activity 3: Draw Your Own Meeting Place
Answers will vary based on the student's own drawing and creativity. The goal is for them to think about what makes a place special for people to gather.