Electorate of Frome to be Renamed 'Ngadjuri' Following Controversy Over Namesake

The South Australian electorate of Frome will be renamed Ngadjuri ahead of the 2026 state election, in response to concerns raised by traditional owners regarding its namesake, Edward Frome. Frome, a former surveyor-general, was linked to controversial acts of retribution against Indigenous people after the "Maria Massacre" in 1840.

The Electoral Districts Boundaries Commission revealed the decision as part of its final adjustments to electoral boundaries for the upcoming election. Labor MLC Reggie Martin, who advocated for the change, cited Frome’s role in events following the massacre, which occurred when the Maria shipwrecked off Cape Jaffa. All 26 passengers on board were killed after initially receiving assistance from local Aboriginal people.

In retaliation, Governor George Gawler dispatched a punitive party, led by police commissioner Major Thomas O'Halloran, with orders to hang those responsible. Two Milmenrura men were executed, a decision that sparked debate given that Indigenous Australians were considered British subjects at the time, thus entitled to a fair trial.

Though Frome was not involved in the hanging, he later traveled to the Coorong and burned a deserted Aboriginal camp. These actions, combined with his presence at a meeting responding to the deaths of the shipwreck survivors, led the commission to conclude that Frome's name was no longer suitable for an electoral district.

The seat of Ngadjuri will now be renamed in honor of the traditional custodians of the land. The final boundary redistribution also saw a reduction in the margin for incumbent Member for Frome, Ms. Pratt, whose seat now extends further south. The changes also affect several other districts across South Australia, with nearly 39,000 voters shifting to new constituencies.

While some, like Ms. Pratt, had proposed renaming the seat in honor of former Liberal Premier Steele Hall, the commission’s decision reflects the broader consultation process. Looking ahead to 2026, Ms. Pratt expressed her commitment to representing the new electorate of Ngadjuri, alongside her continued advocacy for the region's historical and cultural recognition.