For years it has been known as Radiata Plateau. Now the 300 hectares of bush at Katoomba will be known as Ngula Bulgarabang - very large wood forest.
Gundungurra Elders, Aunties Sharyn Halls and Merle Williams, were on hand yesterday to mark the change of name and the lifelong protection of the land after it was bought by the NSW government.
The area is important for both women. Aunty Merle's dad used to come through shooting for rabbits when she was just a girl. Aunty Sharyn's brothers, who went to Megalong Public School, also often visited the area.
It was a connection space from the Burragorang right through to Katoomba, Aunty Sharyn told a small crowd at the ceremony.
"It's an important part of our traditions here. It was a connection between the mission at Katoomba [in The Gully] and this whole area. It's a part of our pathways, it's a part of our story."
Her ancestors used to walk through the land to get to other regions around the Mountains.
"Having this plateau here, it's a big gain for all people ... and important for all of the community of the Blue Mountains."
The state government moved to buy the land after a massive campaign from local residents and the Blue Mountains Conservation Society, which was thanked by the environment minister, Matt Kean, yesterday.
"Today's victory is one for you and your members," he said. "These things don't happen without people caring for the community."
Aunty Sharyn agreed: "The Conservation Society need to be recognised more than anyone."
The society has campaigned for more than 30 years to get the government to take into its hands the last undeveloped plateau on the western escarpment of the Upper Mountains.
It was owned by Maharishi's Global Administration and Natural Law, which operates the Transcendental Meditation program. The land was put up for sale for $2.8 million last year, ensuring an intensification of the campaign to save it from development.
The government bought it last October.
The area will be now be the Ngula Bulgarabang Regional Park, which will allow people to continue walking their dogs and rock climbing in the area, as well as bushwalking.
