Here, some people have been reunited with their families. Others have come here after being released from prison, when they have nowhere else to go. A sculpture on the corner marks significant Aboriginal sites in the neighbourhood.

But the Aborigines who meet here now are reminded daily that while they might stand on Wurundjeri land, they are not welcome. Every time one of them pulls out their mobile phone they are greeted with a racist slur. It's visible to anyone searching for a Wi-Fi connection in the area.

"BoongCorner."

Over the past two years complaints have been made to police, Yarra Council, the Human Rights Commission and the local MP.

But if the Wi-Fi on your phone is turned on at this corner, the site of the annual Smith Street Dreaming festival, you'll still be asked if you want to join the network.

Indigenous woman Jody Beeton said she was mortified when she discovered the offensive network name. "It breaks my heart that in this day and age this type of thing is still happening," she said. "At some point you've got to hope that human beings will unite."

Another local, Kylie Tregonning, said the "gutless" person responsible should "go back to the 1950s".

"It's got to come from a really deep-seated place, to put that much thought into using a derogatory word," she said. "Even on this street with all the different cultures, racism is rife. We're still fighting."

No one knows who set up the wireless network. The area is densely populated, surrounded by businesses and homes. But its existence raises important questions in debates about free speech and the use of section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act.

"I find it incredibly hypocritical that this is allowed to exist," said local woman Viv Malo. "It is racism. And it's cowardly. If someone has a problem they should come and tell us to our faces."

When Ms Malo found out about the network, she walked up and down Smith Street asking traders if they knew who was responsible. None did.

She complained to the Australian Human Rights Commission but was told that without identifying who she had the dispute it, it was "unclear" how the Commission could help resolve the matter.

Tired of the issue being handballed, Ms Malo on Tuesday called on authorities to finally take action to shut it down. "We just want it gone," she said.

The public sculpture by artist Glenn Romanis is listed by Yarra Council as an Aboriginal site of significance. His work represents the topography of the area, mapping out local sites of past and present Aboriginal significance.

"My jaw is on the ground," Mr Romanis said after being told about the Wi-Fi network name. "Having that name associated with this space is just disgusting. It can't be seen as anything other than racism in the extreme. How can someone get away with this?"

Planning Minister and local MP Richard Wynne said he first learnt about the "disgusting and offensive" name at least two years ago and referred it to police at the time.

"Police undertook some investigations to see if they could locate where this Wi-Fi network was hosted," he said. "But the advice they provided to me was that they were unable to get a specific location for it and could not take it further."

Victoria Police this week said investigators were trying to find the person responsible for the wi-fi connection. "The matter is under investigation and police are working to identify the source of the connection," a spokeswoman said.

Victoria's Human Rights Commissioner, Kristen Hilton, said racist language was never acceptable and that the community should "condemn and challenge this sort of discriminatory and hateful behaviour".

A Yarra Council spokeswoman said it had spoken with the Victorian Human Rights Commission and Victoria Police about the matter.