Early 2024, Cardinia Shire Council made a bold and inspiring move—when given the opportunity to name a new suburb, they presented six options to the public, and every single one honoured a local woman who helped shape the community. Monumental. Unheard of. And absolutely the kind of change we need to see more of.

At the same time, Cardinia was taking a deep dive into how place names are selected, ensuring governance structures and policies support equality and diversity in naming decisions and establishing partnerships with historical societies and developers.

Acts like naming a new suburb and high-profile sites after a woman aren’t just symbolic; they create visibility and transformative change. Honora Fields proposed helps set the tone for future place naming in this new suburb and beyond.

Baw Baw Shire Council (BBSC) was the first rural and regional council in Victoria to establish a 70% target for all new commemorative place naming to be after women.This target is in line with Our Equal State: Victoria’s Gender Equality Strategy and Action Plan (2023-2027) which has created a benchmark for local governments.

Identifying a very small percentage of places commemorating women in BBSC, they set about creating sustained change by following the 7 steps to progress Put Her Name on It recommend.

In 2023 the stunning - Three Kurnai Women statue was unveiled in Civic Park, Drouin. The statue funded by BBSC and the Victorian Government is of Dorothy Hood, Regina Rose and Euphemia Mullet Tonkin representing how the women maintained their Kurnai culture in the face of immense change, and the systemic racism and oppression of historic laws and policies.

The City of Port Phillip (CoPP) has a rich ‘Herstory’ of inspiring women who have made significant contributions to local politics, literature, the arts, sport, health, education and the wider community.

The ‘HerStory’ celebrates womens stories and achievements and the map displays places in CoPP where women are recognised and honoured in street names, parks and gardens, buildings and on monuments and other public artworks.

Through ‘HerStory’, CoPP is raising community awareness and support for commemoration of those women who have not yet been recognised and to contribute to greater gender equality and First Nations equity in place naming and public commemoration in the future.

To read more about 'HerStory', visit: HerStory: Women commemorated in the City of Port Phillip

Less than 2% of the approximately 580 statues in Metropolitan Melbourne represent women of history and in the City of Melbourne Art Collection, only 2 of 25 (8%) full-bodied statues portray women. Of street names for which the origins are known, 13 percent are named after men, 8 percent after things, 1 percent after women, and 0.04 percent after Aboriginal people.

The City of Melbourne recognises the positive impact gender equal spaces have on the City, community and individuals and is taking active steps to address inequalities of commemoration and representation in the public realm.

The announcement of three new statues to be after women in 2022 and the public consultation process that ensued garnered more than 1000 submission and 185 different women nominated.

The City of Casey is demonstrating leadership in gender-equitable place naming through its Naming of New Recreation Reserves and Community Facilities guideline (the guideline) and ground breaking school initiative.

The guideline prioritises increasing the representation of women and other historically under-represented groups in the naming of public spaces, with a strong focus on parks, reserves and open spaces. With more than 5,000 sites identified for review, this work could reshape how the city commemorates its history.

A distinctive feature of Casey’s approach is its’ schools-based commemorative justice project, which actively involves students in the place-naming process. Through the program, students learn about the gender imbalance in commemorative naming, research local women of historical significance, and explore how public recognition shapes collective memory. Students then develop and pitch proposals for new place names or public art pieces, which can be progressed by Council. The program creates a meaningful pathway from education to civic action.

By embedding gender equality principles into policy, community engagement and education, the City of Casey is using place naming as a practical tool to address gender inequality. They are putting more women on the city map and working towards a more inclusive history.  This integrated approach increases visibility for women in the public realm and builds community understanding of inclusive naming and why it matters. Casey’s approach is a strong example of best practice in local government place-naming reform.

Place naming plays a powerful role in shaping our history. An internal audit by Swan Hill Rural City Council revealed a significant gender imbalance in commemorative street names: 77% honoured men, while only 6% recognised women. This disparity highlighted the need for a more equitable and intentional approach to asset naming.

To address this imbalance, Council embedded gender equality principles into its Asset Naming Guidelines. Aligning with Victorian Government objectives, Council committed to ensuring that 70% of all new commemorative asset names honour women. This target ensures future naming decisions celebrating women’s contributions to local history and community life.

Key to giving effect to this policy is the creation of a master list (name bank) of suitable commemorative names. The name bank:

• Provides a ready-to-use pool of diverse naming options
• Streamlines decision-making for new assets
• Incorporates community input, ensuring local stories and lived experiences shape public places
• Is available to view on Swan Hills website

By embedding gender equality into policy and practice, Swan Hill Rural City Council will ensures that their public spaces more accurately reflect the diversity, achievements and stories of women in the municipality.

Like many municipalities, Ballarat recognised a significant imbalance in the representation of women across its public spaces. Through a deliberate focus on equity, the council has worked to ensure that the stories and contributions of women are more visibly embedded in the civic landscape.

A key turning point was participation in initiatives such the Put Her Name on It Equity in the Landscape Leadership forum in 2025 and the Finding Her Pilot Program with Her Place Women’s Museum. These experiences strengthened advocacy skills within council and helped shape a more strategic and informed approach. Central to this was the creation of a “name bank” a curated list of 31 notable women connected to Ballarat providing a practical and proactive foundation for equitable naming decisions.

Ballarat has also demonstrated how community advocacy can translate into tangible outcomes. The council became the first local government to successfully move from community nomination to official naming through the Remember a Local – Name a Place initiative. This resulted in the naming of Colquhoun Lane after Amalie Colquhoun, an important Australian landscape and portrait painter, showcasing a clear pathway from public contribution to lasting recognition or ‘Nom to Name’.

Strong partnerships have been critical to Ballarat’s success. In collaboration with a major developer in the suburb of Lucas, the council has secured agreement to commemorate seven notable women through the naming of parks and reserves. Each of these names has a meaningful connection to place, including links to the Lucas family and the nearby Avenue of Honour. Once formally gazetted, the majority of public open spaces in Lucas will be named after women, a significant milestone in rebalancing representation.

Ballarat’s approach provides a clear and replicable model for other local governments. By building a robust name bank, embedding equity into planning processes, enabling community participation, and working collaboratively with developers and cultural partners, councils can achieve lasting change. This case study highlights that with the right structures and commitment, place naming can become a powerful tool for recognising diverse histories and shaping more inclusive communities.

Key Outcomes:

• 31 women identified and recorded in a formal name bank
• First successful “Nom to Name” pathway completed
• 7 new place names honouring women (pending gazettal)
• Strong partnership model between council, developers, and advocacy groups
• Increased visibility of women in everyday public spaces