Street signs in Brisbane's West End have been changed from Boundary to "Boundless" Street anonymously as a nod to the area's past.

Photos of the changed signs began appearing on social media in the lead-up to Australia Day.

So far, no-one has owned up to placing the stickers over the original street signs.

West End elder Sam Watson said the name Boundary Street served as a reminder of a racist colonial regime that once existed in Brisbane.

"The signs go back to 1829, and through the 1940s they were seen as exclusion zones to keep Aboriginal people separated from the European arrivals," he told 612 ABC Brisbane's Spencer Howson.

"Mounted police would use bull whips to move blacks out of the area.

"Places such as Musgrave Park and the Woolloongabba cricket ground were places where the mounted police would drive Aboriginal people to keep them away from the white exclusion zone."

Mr Watson's family are traditional owners of the West End area and he said they were unsure who had been changing the signs.

"I've heard a lot of talk about it and I had supper down there yesterday and someone has put a big Aboriginal sign at Boundary and Vulture Street," he said.

Loading

"We don't know who's doing it but it's interesting.

"I think people need to be aware of the history, but I personally would not support a changing of the name.

"You shouldn't sanitise history or conceal history as it should be there for people to know about.

"I would like signage through the area to let people coming into the area know they are walking on country with that darker history."

Loading

Mr Watson said the history of Boundary Street was not well-known to the general public.

"Our people were well aware of the history and because of our traditions our grandparents and aunties and uncles told us the stories," he said.

"As a youngster my uncles would take me walking around that area and up to Spring Hill, where the main road used to be, and then down to Petrie as that was the exclusion zone.

"Aboriginal people would be treated quite brutally if they crossed that demarcation line, if they crossed it after the hours of darkness."

Name change sparks online petition

West End resident Michael Colenso has started an online petition to have the name of the streets changed permanently.

"For myself I think we have the opportunity to have it reflected differently to what our current cultural paradigm is," he told 612 ABC Brisbane's Peter Scott.

"As a West End resident of several years I do feel that 'Boundless' Street suits the character of West End.

"For me twisting the name in that way provides a different theme and the history of that street."

Mr Colenso said the response so far had been positive.

"It's early days and I haven't engaged with the elders of the traditional land yet," he said.

"It's a positive move that still maintains the essence of this.

"As a citizen of Brisbane looking at that sign it's a reminder that this was a boundary that was policed and brutally."