Have you ever taken a moment to contemplate the origin of the names of places in your area?

I often frequent the beautiful Beeliar Wetlands and learnt nearby Coolbellup, Western Australia, was the name given to North Lake, Perth - the most northern lake in the chain of wetlands - by the Beeliar Nyungar.

Beeliar are one of the clans of the Whadjuk group of Nyungar. Beeliar Nyungar literally means ‘river people’.

What we know today as the City of Cockburn is known as Beeliar Boodjar.

It inspired me to tell the tale in a photo, featuring this beautiful and talented young lady.

The photo is part of an exhibition that will be showing at the Coolbellup Public Library from this Friday the 4th of March.

It's free, if you'd like to check it out.

Oh and in case you're wondering where the name "Cockburn" originated, Captain James Stirling named Cockburn Sound in 1827, probably after Admiral Sir George Cockburn.

More info can be found here, at the City of Cockburn's website: http://www.cockburn.wa.gov.au/about_cockburn/history/