Where did the name “Wellington Park” come from?
Wellington Park takes its name from its major natural feature: Mount Wellington. Mount Wellington was named after the Duke of Wellington, who, in 1816, defeated Napoleon Bonaparte in the Battle of Waterloo. Previously the Mountain had European names such as “Table Hill”, “Montagne du Plateau”, “Skiddaw”, and “Mount Collins”. Prior to European settlement, local Aboriginal communities – the Mouheneenner – are believed to have known the Mountain as “Unghanyahletta” and “Pooranetere”, however other communities viewing the Mountain from further afield may have known it by other names. Recently, the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre has suggested that “Kunanyi” is the true name for the Mountain, based upon records made by early European settlers.
