Road naming, place naming and feature naming

Who can name a road?

Any person, organisation, community group or naming authority (such as Council, government agency or developer), may request to name or rename roads, reserves, open spaces and other Council facilities. The naming or renaming process provides a chance to recognise the local history, culture and identity of the area.

We also receive requests from emergency services such as Ambulance Victoria. These requests are prioritised to make finding places quick and easy. This saves critical minutes reaching crisis situations.

Once received and assessed for suitability, naming submissions take approximately 6 months to complete (except for submissions by emergency services). However we are currently dealing with a large backlog of requests. Your request may take longer than normal.

What your submission should contain

To formally commence the road naming process, please send an email with the following information to roadandfeaturenaming@portphillip.vic.gov.au:

• a suitable name or multiple names
• any supporting historical information/evidence supporting the name/s, including links to websites and/or articles.
• Gender equality and First Nations equity are important priorities for place naming and we encourage submissions of women’s names and Indigenous people’s names to support these objectives

Before submitting it’s important that you assess all suggested names against the relevant naming principles by reading the following documents (see below):

1. "Naming rules for places in Victoria 2022" including but not only:

• Principle C - Linking the name to place (names should have a link to place to ensure the preservation of our cultural heritage); and
• Principle D - Ensuring names are not duplicated within a 5 kilometre radius

2. “Guidelines for the Naming or Re-naming of Roads, Lane and Reserves City of Port Phillip 2005” noting Section D – Selection Criteria for Names

To make it easier, here are the principles/criteria for place naming.

• Principle B - Recognising the public interest
• Principle C - Linking the name to place/ name greater than local significance can be used
• Principle D - Ensuring any part of the name is not duplicated within a 5kms radius
• Principle E - Recognition and use of Traditional Owner languages
• Principle F - Names must not discriminate or be offensive
• Principle G - Gender equality
• Principle H - Dual names
• Principle I - Use commemorative names; after event, person or place/ avoid living people
• Principle J – Avoid commercial and business names
• Principle K - Language; must not be complicated, not sound like another name, be phonetic
• Principle L – Avoid directional names; avoid North, South, East, West
• Can be also named after a significant event, place, local floral and fauna