A place naming and public art audit sources information to:

• establish a base level of data
• support the case for change
• create an action plan
• measure progress.

The audit will help us:

• promote gender equality
• meet Victoria’s target to have 70% of all new commemorative place naming after women
• understand gaps in representation in commemorative place naming and public art at a local, state and national level.

The audit should be completed by naming authorities, such as local councils. Each naming authority will have a different organisational structure and responsibility for place naming and public art may sit across a range of different officers and teams. We recommend that these various officers work together to complete the audit.

Other organisations and individuals, such as libraries and historical groups can support the audit.  For example, Nillumbik Shire Council and Yarra Plenty Regional Library partnered to host workshops at the Diamond Valley Library where they had access to the local history collection, library resources and the internet to research and document the history of local place names and public art.

Naming authorities should record the total number of places and public art audited. The audit should record any commemorative names, as well as any of the following information known about the person being commemorated:

• their gender - man, woman, gender diverse, multi gender (this includes names that commemorate a group of people of different genders, i.e a man and a woman or a family)
• whether they were First Peoples
• whether they were from a multicultural background
• whether they identified as having a disability
• whether they identified as being part of the LGBTIQA+ community.

You may identify names that appear to commemorate a person, but where there is no known history or origin. You should still record these names in your commemorative register. These unknown commemorative names could provide an opportunity to add new commemorations to existing place names.

It’s important to review the audit data to:

• get a better understanding about the gap in representation of people of different genders, identities and backgrounds
• calculate the estimated time required to close the gap.

Your calculation about the estimated time required to close the gap is intended to be a rough estimate only. This estimate can help to guide your efforts and resources over the long term as you work to increase recognition of people of all genders, identities and backgrounds in place naming and public art.

The following is a hypothetical example based on a fictional council named ‘Womensfield’.

You can use the template in Attachment 1 to complete a place naming and public art audit. All instructions are in Tab 1. When completed, please send a copy to puthernameonit@genvic.org.au

Download the audit template: Attachment 1 [XLSX 53.5KB]

The information will be shared with Geographic Names Victoria. They will use the information to:

• update VICNAMES
• make sure gender is recorded against names in your municipality.

In Victoria, defined entities (which includes local councils) must meet gender equality requirements listed in the Gender Equality Act 2020. This includes completing Gender Impact Assessments (GIAs) on any new or up for review policies, programs and services that have a direct impact on the public. Place naming and public art services meet this threshold and require you to complete a GIA.  Defined entities have obligations to provide progress reports to the Commissioner for Gender Equality in the Public Sector, including reporting on GIAs.

GIAs are a way of thinking about how policies, programs and services will meet the different needs of:

• women
• men
• gender diverse people.

When completing a GIA, you need to take an intersectional approach and consider how policies, programs and services will meet the needs of people who may experience overlapping forms of disadvantage or discrimination, on the basis of:

• Aboriginality
• disability
• ethnicity
• gender
• identity
• race
• religion
• sexual orientation
• age.

GIAs aim to:

• create better and fairer outcomes
• make sure all people have equal access to opportunities and resources.

The steps to complete GIA in relation to your place naming and public art service are:

• Step 1: Define the issues and challenge assumptions: Consider the objectives and purpose of your place naming and public art service and how gender and identity shape and impact the service.
• Step 2: Understand your context: Gather data about how the service impacts people of different genders and identities. A key source of data is your place naming and public art audit (see step 1 of this guide).
• Step 3: Options analysis: Develop options to improve gender equality in place naming and public art.
• Step 4: Make recommendations: Make a recommendation based on your analysis and outline your reasons.

It is useful to start your GIA process by initiating a group discussion or workshop within your organisation. This can help you to work through each of the steps and come to a final recommendation.

Find out more about Bass Coast Council's place naming equality work in this Case Study.

The template in Attachment 2 can help you complete your GIA.

Download the GIA template: Attachment 2 [DOCX 88.4KB]

It is important to refer to your organisation’s policies and procedures when completing a GIA. More resources on how to complete a GIA are available at: How do I conduct a gender impact assessment? | genderequalitycommission.vic.gov.au

To honour women and gender diverse people who helped shape our communities we must know their names and stories. Then we can achieve equality.

A name bank is a curated list of people who may be considered for future place naming or public art opportunities. A name bank that includes people of all genders, identities and backgrounds can support councils to make more informed and inclusive decisions about place naming and public art. A name bank should include representation of people who have made different types of contributions to the community.

A name bank can be a spreadsheet, database or it can be built into an existing document management system. It is used to store information about people who could be commemorated in place names. For example:

• the person’s name (including any preferred or locally used name)
• if they are alive or dead
• gender, identity and background
• their contribution and connections to the community
• length of their association with an area
• recommendations about how they could be commemorated. For example, by having a new road or public park named after them
• contact details for their family or the person who nominated them for commemoration.

You will also need to securely store any accompanying attachments relating to the person’s contributions to the community, such as photos or biographies about the person.

The name bank will include personal information that must be managed in accordance with privacy obligations under the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014. Refer to your organisation’s privacy policies regarding storage, use and disclosure of personal information.

Remember a Local - Name a Place

‘Remember a Local - Name a Place’ is a public campaign led by Geographic Names Victoria (GNV). All Victorians can nominate someone who has made a significant contribution to be considered for commemoration in a place name. Nominations for people from groups who are currently under-represented in Victoria’s place names are especially encouraged. This includes women, First Peoples, people with a disability, LGBTQIA+ and people from multicultural backgrounds.

The campaign will help councils start or top up their name bank with naming ideas from across the community. Councils can refer to the name bank, when they need to name a place in their local area.

Find all the details at Name a place in Victoria | Engage Victoria or contact geo.names@transport.vic.gov.au for more information.

Need more names and diversity?

If you want to add more names to your name bank, start by identifying people who have made significant contributions to your local area. This can include:

• researching council records to identify council leaders, volunteers of local heroes
• speaking with local newspapers, historical societies, and heritage groups
• working with experts such as Her Place Women’s Museum Australia
• consulting community organisations, sporting clubs, and arts groups
• reviewing state, national, and local awards across areas such as community service, sport, media, arts, and culture.

Review your name bank regularly to ensure it reflects the diversity of your community.

Are you a naming authority outside of Victoria?

Local councils and naming authorities across Australia play a vital role in ensuring place names and public art reflect the diversity of their communities.

We have developed the ‘Name Bank Toolkit’ to support councils and organisations to create name banks inclusive of people of all genders, identities and contributions. The toolkit includes ready-to-use content, with a focus on women and gender diverse people.

Download the Name Bank Toolkit [PDF 5.6MB].

Examples of Nomination Pages

• Baw Baw Shire Council | Place Names Advisory Committee
• Darebin City Council | Place Naming Request Application Form

Example of publicly available Name Bank

• Swan Hill Rural City Council | Asset Naming Master List 2022 [PDF 672KB]

Good policy can make a huge difference to an organisation’s decision-making and the outcomes they deliver.

Policies can help an organisation:

• increase productivity
• improve consistency and transparency in decision-making
• save time.

Having a place naming policy that includes consideration of gender equality will help your organisation or council:

• address existing gender-based inequalities in place naming
• better reflect the diversity of your community
• comply with the Naming Rules for Places in Victoria (including Principle G: Gender Equality)
• contribute to the government’s target to have 70% of all new commemorative naming after women.

Policy leaders should work with a wide range of people and groups in the development of the policy. This will help you challenge any biases and assumptions and lead to a more effective policy.

Policy development processes should be in line with your organisation's existing frameworks and tools. Your policy development process should include:

• consultation with stakeholders
• endorsement by decision makers
• a timeline for review.

You can use Attachment 3 to help you to promote gender equality in your place naming policy.

Download the Policy Guide: Attachment-3-Policy-Guide-Final

Download an example from Swan Hill Rural City Council: Asset Naming Guidelines Pro/Infra 500 [PDF 5.7MB].

This policy development information relates to place naming. The information can also guide policies for public art including memorials. This will help make sure public place commemorations honour people of all genders and identities.

Establishing a governance structure and providing appropriate resourcing for place naming and public art:

• shows commitment and raises awareness about these services
• ensures coordinated and transparent decision-making
• enables community involvement in these services
• contributes to the development, implementation and review of place naming and public art policy and plans
• can support your organisation’s efforts to increase gender equality in place naming and public art.

Resources

Appoint staff to manage place naming and public art within your organisation and support compliance with relevant legislation and policies.

These responsibilities may form all or part of the staff member’s role, depending on your organisation’s needs.

Position descriptions should include commitment to achieve gender equality policy objectives.

Establish a committee

Establish a committee to oversee place naming and public art. Councils often support a range of committees. These committees can include councillors, staff and community members.

A Terms of Reference should:

• guide the committee’s recruitment, behaviours and duties
• include a commitment to address the gender equality gap in place naming and public art
• set requirements about appointment of members to support your organisation’s representation and diversity goals.

Delegations are important to ensure the successful management of place naming. Make sure there are clear delegated authority lines.

Download an example from LaTrobe City Council: Road Facilities and Place Naming Committee Terms of Reference [PDF 977KB]

If you don’t yet have a committee, you could establish an informal or temporary structure such as a place naming working group.  A working group can be particularly helpful if multiple staff members hold responsibility for place naming.

A working group can help your council to:

• create a plan to support gender equality in place naming
• monitor your progress
• help establish a committee in the longer term.

Training

It is important that all staff and committee members involved in place naming and public art:

• understand the organisation’s gender equality policy or plan
• take part in gender equality training
• understand the objectives of relevant legislation, including the Gender Equality Act 2020.

An action plan will help guide your work towards place naming and public art equality. It will also ensure transparency and accountability in your work towards gender equality.

Before you create your action plan, use the Pulse Check to identify gaps and priority areas for improving gender equality in place naming and public art in your locality.

Then use the steps in the above sections to create an organisational action plan.

A sample action plan has been created in Attachment 4 with all the actions listed above. You can change the sample action plan to achieve a plan that focuses on your organisation’s identified gaps and needs.

Download the Sample Action Plan: Attachment 4 [DOCX 82KB]

Download the LGA Example Action Plan: Attachment 5 [PDF 151KB]

Some incredible work is already taking place. Here is a collection of stories and ideas to give you inspiration as you work towards place naming and public art equality.

Place naming and public art on scale

New subdivisions: are an important part of creating place naming equality. New subdivisions can have tens or hundreds of new streets and places that need names and spaces for new public art.

Start by identifying new subdivisions in your locality and reach out to the organisation’s managing them. Discuss your organisation or council’s equality vision and see how working together could fast track parity and achieve targets.

• Example: Parklea Developments has new subdivisions in Wonthaggi and Officer. They worked with councils and historical societies to create a list of historical women for street and park names. Parklea commits to commemorating people of all genders and achieving parity in their new developments.
• Example: Fisherman’s Bend, Australia’s largest urban renewal project will welcome 80,000 residents and support 80,000 jobs by 2050. Many new roads, parks, and public places will be created, needing names that reflect the community’s identity. Informed by the City of Melbourne’s Place and Road Policy, Fisherman’s Bend will see 3 in 4 commemorative names honour women.

Unnamed places: Use your place naming and public art audit to help identify and map any unnamed places in your locality. Use the name bank to match suitable places with the names of local women and gender diverse people. Take this map/list to public consultation and use it to guide the naming process.

• Example: Mildura Rural City Council named seven laneways celebrating and honouring the contributions of pioneering women in Mildura’s early settler community.

Unnamed spaces: Official commemorative place naming of streets, parks, stations and schools follow a regulated process under the Naming Rules. There are other spaces that can be named more informally, including buildings, internal meeting rooms and honour walls.

• Example: #WORSHIPP (Women of Respect and Substance Honoured In Public Places), created by award-winning journalist Louise Evans is empowering communities to honour local heroines by naming everyday spaces— from cinemas and health centres to meeting rooms, hospital wards, factories and sports pavilion displays. Every dedication is celebrated and added to the #WORSHIPP Roll of Honour to make women more visible. Check it out at WORSHIPP.

Statue projects: Consider opportunities to invest in public art in your locality.

• Example: In December 2022, the City of Melbourne committed to three new statues of prominent women. This was to help address the massive gender imbalance in public art across the city. A public engagement process received over 1000 submissions nominating 185 different women. World-renowned suffragist Vida Goldstein was the first statue confirmed. The partnership was with A Monument of One’s Own and The Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation.

High Visibility

Heritage/prominent signage: Use your place naming and public art audit to identify place names commemorating women and gender diverse people. Consider whether there is prominent signage in those locations, providing details about the person who is commemorated. Any place without signage provides an opportunity to increase visibility of notable local women and their achievements and contributions to the community.

• Example: Olive Justice Place in Cowes now has a large display dedicated to Olive’s life and history.

High-profile sites: consider giving prominence to the achievements of women and gender diverse people by commemorating them at high profile sites.

• Example: The suburb of Lucas in Ballarat commemorates Eleanor Lucas, founder of the local textile company Lucas and Co. and the ‘Lucas Girls’ who worked there. The company and its employees planted over 1000 trees along Remembrance Drive in honour of those who enlisted for service during World War One. Very few high-profile sites are named after women. This is a shining example of a commitment to advancing place naming equality.

Commemorative Maps: Talk to Finding Her about having sites in your locality added to the Finding Her commemorative tour. Finding Her is Australia’s first statewide women’s commemorative tour. It has the stories of over 60 women commemorated through place naming, statues, plaques and murals. A QR code is located on each site linking to each women’s story.

You could also create your own map of commemorations of women and gender diverse people in your locality.

• Example: The ‘HerStory’ map shows places in the City of Port Phillip that commemorate women. City of Port Phillip encourages people to engage with the map and stories of these women. They want more women and First Peoples considered for future commemorations. Visit HerStory: Women commemorated in the City of Port Phillip.

Walking tours: Connecting existing public commemorations and stories of women to tourism activities such as walking tours is an excellent way to promote the significant and diverse role women have played in shaping their communities. You can create your own walking tour or work with an existing enterprise.

• Example: She Shapes History offers unique tours about women’s and LGBTQIA+ history in cities across Australia celebrating remarkable stories of history makers. https://sheshapeshistory.com.au/canberra-walking-tours/
• Example: Women’s Tour of Melbourne is a self-managed walk consisting of 35 sites of significance to women in Melbourne. The tour was created to celebrate the centenary of women's suffrage in 2008 https://walkingmaps.com.au/walk/201
• Example: Melbourne Walks offers the Melbourne Women Tour visiting historic places of significance to women  https://melbournewalks.com.au/melbourne-womens-tour/

Co-naming: With many prominent sites already named after men, the opportunity to co-name after women and gender diverse people is important. Co-naming is when you add an additional commemoration to an existing commemorative name.

• Example:The suburb of Spence in the ACT was co-named to honour political reformer, journalist, feminist and novelist Catherine Helen Spence (1825-1910). The suburb was first named in 1972 to honour trade unionist and politician William Guthrie Spence. William and Catherine are not related but equally as significant to Australian history.

School initiatives: Councils can encourage young people to learn about gender equality in place naming and public art. This can be done by partnering with schools, to run programs and projects aligned with the educational curriculum such as Respectful Relationships and history.

• Example: The City of Casey’s Project Respect initiative provided an opportunity for students to learn about commemorative justice, equality and respect.  Year 10 students were invited to create a video outlining their idea for a woman who could be commemorated in a local place name or public art piece. The winning team is working with the City of Casey to develop and deliver the commemoration.

Partnerships: are an effective way to advance place naming and public art equality.

• Example: The Alice Anderson Statue Project Committee established a strategic partnership with the City of Boroondara. This community-led initiative resulted in Council agreeing to contribute funds for the creation of a statue of Alice Anderson and to undertake landscaping at the Council-managed site (Petrie Square, Kew). The Committee is responsible for managing the project and raising the remaining funds needed. This will be the first statue honouring a local woman in Boroondara– a tribute to Alice’s local and national contributions. Find out more at the Alice Anderson Memorial Project.