K'gari/Fraser Island is in the final stages of officially returning to its traditional name, with community consultation on the proposal drawing to a close this week.
The world's largest sand island is already known as K'gari by Queensland National Parks and in the World Heritage title, but is expected to become universally official by the end of the year.
K'gari, pronounced "Gurri", means paradise.
It derives from a traditional creation story, named after the white spirit that helped create the country that Butchulla people call home.
Queensland's Environment Minister, Meaghan Scanlon, said the consultation period had been extended until Thursday, October 6.
"We have already renamed the World Heritage component of K'gari/Fraser Island, but this is about changing that legal document as well," she said.
"I think it is an important moment in history where we do acknowledge some of the wrongs in the past and try and make sure that we have a more respectful name.
"One that aligns with the views of Traditional Owners."
The proposed change means 'Fraser Island' would be dropped entirely and replaced with K'gari only.
Ms Scanlon said the name change was expected to be implemented before the new year.
"The department will go through the consultation and they'll provide a recommendation to the minister who will ultimately make a decision," she said.
'Recognition of our connection to country'
The Fraser Island name was a tribute to Eliza Fraser, a woman who was shipwrecked on the island in 1836.
After her rescue, Ms Fraser constructed a damaging narrative about her treatment that led to the massacre and dispossession of the Butchulla people.
The general manager of the Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation, Chantel Van Wamelen, said the title change was a restoration, rather than a renaming.
"It's always been known as K'gari to us and it's about the truth-telling too," she said.
"I know it can be uncomfortable for a lot of people.
"We don't want the island to be named after Eliza Fraser, who wasn't a friend of the Butchulla people, and her false stories that she put out about us led to the disposition of our people.
"It might not stick straight away, but I have hope for future generations that the name will be the norm and people will acknowledge that name."
Ms Van Wamelen said the change would greatly affect Butchulla people.
"It's showing that respect for us as Traditional Owners and acknowledging our connection to country, especially for those old people and the ones that aren't with us today who fought for a long time," she said.
"For us to honour that and it to officially become K'gari is a very significant thing to us."
