From small towns to large cities across the globe, a glaring disparity exists that reflects a broader societal issue. Very few place names and public art, including statues, honour women. This is not just an issue of representation. It is about recognition for the countless, incredible women who have helped shape local communities and beyond, yet remain invisible in commemorative geographic place names and public art. 

According to Statues for Equality just 3% of statues honour a woman, and A Monument of One’s Own states there are more statues of animals than women in Australia. This lack of representation extends to place naming as well; streets, buildings and parks named after men far outnumber those named after women.

In 2022, Victorian local councils were surveyed about place naming and public art. Over 17,000 geographic place names and public artworks across 13 local councils were reviewed through the survey.  The survey found that:

• around 1 in 5 (3505) place names and public art commemorated a person
• around 1 in 10 (441) of these commemorations honoured women

The research also highlighted the ‘bronze gap’ – just 3% of all monuments and public art and 7% of full-body statues reviewed in the survey honoured women.

Find out about the research in our blog post: How many places and public art in Victoria honour women?

Put Her Name on It was created by Women in Gippsland in 2020 as a campaign to challenge and disrupt traditional commemorative place naming and public art practice, address the gender gap and create safer, more inclusive and prosperous societies.

In 2022, Gender Equity Victoria (GEN VIC) partnered with the campaign to create statewide systemic change and national momentum towards commemorative justice.

Victoria

Geographic Names Victoria (GNV) and the Office of Women have displayed incredible leadership in public place commemorative equality. Since 2022 they have:

• Changed the ‘Naming Rules’ to include gender equality as a principle
• Improved VICNAMES (the register of geographic place names) capability to collect gendered data
• Partnered with GEN VIC to deliver statewide research, the Finding Her Commemorative Tour, advocacy and sector capability building
• Invested $2.2M in the Women’s Public Art Program for 12 public art works of women by women
• Embedded a target in Our Equal State: Victoria’s Gender Equality Strategy and Action Plan (2023-2027) for 70% of all new commemorative place names to be named for women
• Partnered with Her Place Museum to expand Finding Her and create a research hub of notable women for commemoration
• Increased gazetted commemorative names of women in Victoria from 26% in 2022 to 70% in 2025

Local Government sector commitment and progress in commemorative justice is commendable. 84% of Victorian local governments participated in statewide research in 2022 about their progress towards place naming and public art equality. In 2025, there were at least 42 Victorian local governments taking action to address the place naming and public art gap through audits, policy, planning, gender impact assessments, name banks, governance and resourcing. Here are some excellent examples:

• Planning for commemorative justice – City of Melbourne
• Audit and Gender Impact Assessment – Bass Coast Council
• Policy with teeth – Baw Baw Shire: Place and Feature Naming Policy | Baw Baw Connect
• Public Art – Baw Baw Shire: Three Kurnai Women on Country | vic.gov.au

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

The ACT has a strong focus on women’s representation in geographic place naming and it is making a real difference.

For a decade now, the ACT has analysed annual place naming by gender. Between 2015 and 2024, the number of men and women commemorated in place names were relatively equal (231 women and 237 men respectively). Exceptional progress has been made in new residential subdivisions, with Denman Prospect and Whitlam both boasting more women’s names than men (56% and 51% respectively).

Recently ACT co-named the suburb of Spence, by adding Catherine Helen Spence to the official name and story board on site. Overall, 13% of the ACT suburbs are named after women.

Naming authorities

• Check out the Resource section to guide your commemorative justice journey.
• Enhance your expertise and book into one of our Professional Development sessions and other events.
• Make sure you encourage others in your organisation to get involved too.
• For councillors: you can request a briefing, or include in your next budget. Here's how: 3 Simple Ways to Push for More Women on the Map.

Individuals and groups

• Nominate someone through Remember a Local Name a Place: This campaign allows you to nominate someone who has made a significant contribution to be considered for a new place name. Nominations for under-represented groups including women and First Nations people are particularly encouraged. Nominations will be added to a council name bank, to be considered when places need naming.
• Ask your local government area about the approach to place naming and public art equality.
• Host a local event. RECLAIM HER NAME events are held during March each year to help local residents with research, storytelling and nominating women for commemoration. Anyone can host one of these events. Register your event by emailing us at genvic@genvic.org.au and download the toolkit.
• Donate to a public place commemoration project like the Ellis Rowan Statue Project in Macedon. Find out more at Ellis Rowan Statue Project.
• Follow us on social media – Put Her Name on It #puthernameonit #commemorativejustice #westandwithwomen #visiblewomen #putwomenonthemap

To find out how to get involved - read our Put Her Name On It Blog | How YOU Can Put Her Name on It- Even if You're Not a Naming Authority or 3 Simple Ways to Push for More Women on the Map.

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