From Bon Scott and Batman to Bogan and Sanger, here's how Canberra's street names are chosen and the stories behind them

A lot of research and planning goes into choosing street names, with each suburb given a theme. 
(ABC News: Penny Travers)

By Penny Travers

As Australia's capital city, it's no surprise that many of Canberra's streets and suburbs are named after prime ministers and pioneers.

But there are some quirky exceptions (cue Bon Scott Crescent) and more than a few roadways that indirectly reference pop culture and Aussie slang, like Batman Street and Bogan Place.

The double meanings of streets like Holden Place and Holden Crescent also see those signs regularly replaced due to theft. 

Some of the names may prompt a double take (like Iron Knob Street), but a lot of research and planning goes into the choosing of place names in the capital, with each suburb given its own street theme.

From the music industry and rivers to politicians and Aboriginal words, here's some of the city's intriguing street themes, how to find the origin of your street and suburb, and how place names are selected in the first place.

Moncrieff is named after musical comedy and opera star Gladys Moncrieff.  (ABC News: Penny Travers)

Suburb themes

Of Canberra's 123 suburbs (which includes the newly announced Sulman and Bandler), 82 are named after men, 12 are named after women, two are jointly named after a man and woman (Denman Prospect and Spence), and 27 have non-personal names (like Pialligo and Kambah). 

All but two of those 123 suburbs has a theme.

Being the nation's capital, suburb and street names need to represent the whole of Australia, which explains how Fadden ended up with streets named after Queensland politicians. 

AC/DC's legendary frontman is commemorated by Bon Scott Crescent in Moncrieff.  (ABC News: Penny Travers)

In Amaroo (an Aboriginal word translated as 'beautiful place'), you'll find the streets are named after Australian lakes and rivers, like Lake Augusta, Clarendon, and Shoalhaven River.

Neighbouring Moncrieff is named after musical comedy and opera star Gladys Moncrieff, with streets named after music industry icons including Bon Scott, Slim Dusty, Chrissy Amphlett and Isaac Yamma.

Across town in Mawson, which is named after the Antarctic explorer Sir Douglas Mawson, you'll find Aurora, Heard Island, and Hodgeman in keeping with the theme of Antarctic exploration. 

The street name theme in Moncrieff is musicians and those associated with the field of music.  
(ABC News: Penny Travers)

In O'Malley, named after federal minister King O'Malley, the streets feature Aboriginal words, such as Coreen (meaning last of the hills), Timbarra (meaning grass tree), Kiah (meaning beautiful place) and Kanangra (meaning beautiful view). 

Some 30 architects are commemorated in Greenway (named after colonial architect Francis Greenway) including Australia's first female architect, engineer and town planner Florence Taylor.

And new streets have recently been gazetted in Whitlam, where the theme is arts and culture. There you'll soon find Majestic Lane and Paris Theatre Lane, named after two Sydney theatres of the past. 

You can search for the origin and theme of your suburb and the story behind your street name here on the ACT Place Names Map. 

First published at ABC News, December 29, 2024

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