Place Names Register Extract

Balyun Street

Extract date: 15/01/2026

Name Balyun
Type Designation Street
Place Id 5179
Place Type Road
Status Registered
Date Registered 26 October 1966
Locality / Suburb  
  Ludmilla
Local Government Area  
  Darwin City Council
History/Origin Balyun Street is named in honour of Frank Secretary.

Frank Secretary, known by his Larrakia name Balyun, was a highly respected Aboriginal man of the Darwin region and a key figure in the early 20th century Larrakia community. Born around 1884, he was a member of the Danggalaba clan, one of the eight clan groups of the Larrakia people, the Traditional Owners of the Darwin area.

Frank was self-educated and became well-regarded across both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities. He earned the surname 'Secretary' through his work at an early Darwin newspaper, where he was employed in typesetting - an unusual and skilled occupation for an Aboriginal man at the time.

He was married to Lucy Danumal, and together they raised a family that would continue to contribute significantly to the Larrakia community and Aboriginal advocacy more broadly. Among their children were:

Topsy Secretary (Juwaning), born in 1928, a strong Larrakia woman who became a leader in her community and an active voice in the Aboriginal rights movement.

Bobby Secretary (Gwilamarinyi), born in 1929, a prominent cultural advocate, community leader and activist.

Gabriel Secretary, who joined his siblings in public expressions of Larrakia identity.

Register & Gazettal information

Date Gazettal Comment
26/10/1966 NTG54

The Northern Territory Gazetteer is maintained by the Place Names Section,
Department of Lands, Planning and Environment.
GPO Box 1680, Darwin NT 0801. Ph 08 8995 5333.
place.names@nt.gov.au

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