Dual name adopted for major NSW river

For two centuries it has borne the name of an English settler, but now a major NSW inland river will also officially go by its traditional Wiradjuri name.

Bathurst Local Aboriginal Land Council chief executive Tonilee Scott welcomed official approval of the dual name Wambuul for the Macquarie River, in the Murray-Darling Basin.

"Wambuul means 'winding river' in the Wiradjuri language and is a fitting title for this significant tributary," she said.

"Using the Wiradjuri language for this ancient river is a powerful and inclusive symbol of the broader community's appreciation of First Nations people's very long ties to Wambuul."

The river, which flows from the Central Tablelands through Bathurst and Dubbo, was given its European name after Lachlan Macquarie, the fifth governor of NSW.

Signposts, maps and directories relating to the area will feature both names, which will have equal status.

The Mayor of the Bathurst Regional Council Ian North said the dual naming was vital to meaningful community reconciliation.

"This is a significant occasion for our city as it helps unite our community to move forward into the future," he said.

Many geographical features already have traditional names that have been used by the local Aboriginal community for many thousands of years.