By Jed Lanyon
A Yarra Valley township received a temporary name change thanks to some pranksters who decided to give the town’s signage a fresh look.
Earlier this month, local Facebook noticeboards lit up with an image of a Yarra Ranges Council sign that read ‘Healesville Heights’, a new take on the historic Badger Creek township.
It had locals asking if council had pulled a sneaky one on them by changing the name, while some others rejected the idea of a new name and wanted to preserve the history of Badger Creek.
Yarra Ranges Council were quick to investigate the issue and remove what was found to be a sticker covering the original Badger Creek name. Yarra Ranges Mayor, Fiona McAllister, posted on one of the noticeboards to clarify the matter.
“Sticker has been removed now,” she said.
It turns out the Healesville or Badger Creek prankster has too much time on their hands as they managed to match a custom sticker to council’s aqua green colouring as well as their typical signage font to fool passersby.
The Badger Creek name is believed to have derived from early settlers who mistakenly believed the resident wombats, that were frequently seen in the area, to be badgers.
Here’s what the locals had to say.
Katie: Did I miss something?
Tom: embrace it I say. The fancy side of Healesville.
Peter: Look, we live in ‘Healesville Heights’ now. It’s like the Brighton of Healesville.
Stu: Property prices just went up.
Jo: It’s not even April 1!
Denise: What the? Was there any consultation with the residents? Did I miss it? Will Chum Creek be next?
Elaine: Better not be. I am still getting over the fire station being changed from Chum Creek to Healesville West.
Sally: Sounds a bit posh!
Gabriella: The fact that it’s out the front of my house and I didn’t even notice.
Katherine: That takes planning and execution. Whoever you are, can we be friends?
Steve: They are trying to bring the prices down in Healesville by cheapening its good name by including Badger Creek residents. I suggest we build a wall.
Ash: Get a Badger Creek sticker made if it’s a war they want, it’s a war they’ll get!
Kerryl: Badger Creek is gorgeous. Healesville Heights is crap (and) pretentious.
