The choice had been between Lucas Primary School and Mullawallah Primary School with the community invited to vote on their preferred option.

The school, which has been under construction this year, will now keep its interim name. Some councillors and prominent members of the community said they hoped the vote would go in favour of Mullawallah, who was an indigenous leader in the 19th century. He was a Wadawurrung man, thought to be the last of the Ballaarat tribe.

The Courier's poll earlier this year voted in favour of Mullawallah.

Local indigenous elder Murray Harrison said last month that calling the school Mullawallah would be a good tribute to the man, who was also known as King Billy, and was widely respected.

However, Mr Harrison said he did not want to see a divisive vote. The name Mullawallah was the subject of wide discussion five years ago when it was considered as the name for a suburb that ultimately became Winter Valley. The council at the time backtracked on a decision to call the new area Mullawallah after receiving more than 100 protests.

Lucas Primary School or Mullawallah Primary School? You decide

The decision for the school name was announced in a department of education press release this afternoon which confirmed the names of all 10 new schools that will open in Victoria next year.

All were named after community consultation. It is unclear how exactly how the vote broke down for Lucas Primary School.

The $17.1-million school will be at the heart of one of the fastest growing areas in the city and will eventually have a capacity for around 475 students.

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