Unnamed pedestrian laneway on Phillip Street

The unnamed laneway is located at 78 Phillip Street within the Parramatta CBD. The laneway provides direct access for pedestrians from Phillip Street down to the Parramatta River foreshore via a set of stairs, and connects directly to the Elizabeth Street footbridge. The site is a short walk to the Parramatta Ferry Terminal, and is also accessible via bus stops along Phillip Street and major active transport links and cycleways along the river.

Caption: An aerial view of the laneway's location

The project presents a unique opportunity to involve the community in the naming of the laneway.

All feedback will inform the final name but usually the most popular choice chosen by the community is presented to Councillors for endorsement before being submitted to the GNB for final approval and gazettal.

Following consultation, Council will review the community feedback and submit the endorsed name to the NSW Geographical Names Board for final approval and gazettal. 

After a name has been gazetted, it will be placed on relevant signs and be made available on official maps. Council expects to complete this process early in 2024. Council will also update this page once the final name has been confirmed.

"With the consultation of our Dharug language knowledge holders we have looked at the laneway position and Dharug landforms and meanings and have created three names for consideration for the laneway.

The connections that this space has is the pathway through country giving access to and away from the river, a quick way through.

The Baramaddagul people would follow the constellations to find our way across country. This pathway would lead to resources that were found along the river, in recent times this is a pedestrian pathway that also leads us to resources and our places in Baramadda and beyond through salt water country. We are guided by the night sky following the Baramaddagul story of moving across country."

Courtesy of Darug Custodian Aboriginal Corporation

The NSW Geographical Names Board Place Naming Policy states:

• Commemorative names are those that commemorate a person, event or place. Acts of bravery, community service and exceptional accomplishments are typical grounds for this recognition. The name of persons who gave their lives in service for their country are often used as commemorative names. The person commemorated should have contributed significantly to the area around the geographic feature or locality. When such a name is applied, it shall be given posthumously, at least one year after the decease of the person.
• Names of living persons are by their nature subject to partisan perception and changes in community judgement and acceptance. Commemorative names shall not be used to commemorate victims of, or mark the location of, accidents or tragedies.
• Ownership of land is not in itself grounds for the application of an owner’s name. Names of persons holding public office shall not be used.
• Personal names, including those of persons still living, may be used for built features e.g. pavilions and grandstands etc., however these features are not formally assigned by the GNB and are not covered by the Act.

The Geographical Names Board of NSW ‘NSW Address Policy and User Manual’ (May 2021) outlines the guidelines for naming roads. The guidelines can be accessed at www.gnb.nsw.gov.au.  In summary, proposed names should comply with the following principles:

• Road names shall not be offensive, racist, derogatory or demeaning (refer to NSW Anti-Discrimination legislation).
• Road names shall not be misspelt. In particular, the spelling of personal names shall be able to be validated by reference to primary sources.
• Commercial and business names shall not be used, particularly where the name can be construed to be promoting the business. However, business names no longer in use and which promote the heritage of an area are acceptable.
• Road types shall not be used in the formation of a road name, for example Promenade Road, Court Street etc. even if the road type is also a surname.
• Only one name shall be used for commemorative naming e.g. a given name or surname.

The NSW Geographical Names Board has a number of criteria and rules in place, which make it difficult for some name submissions to be effective. For example, name suggestions must be as site specific and contextually accurate as possible, not have duplicates within a 10km radius, not reference a living person and must also meet emergency services, postal and navigation requirements. However, members of the community are encouraged to propose alternate names in the online submission form. Should any of these names prove suitable and meet the GNB criteria, they will be considered for inclusion during stage two consultation.

To assess the eligibility of a possible suggestion, please click here.

Council's process is to propose and prepare names in accordance with Council's Road Naming Policy (no. 283) and the NSW Address Policy and User Manual (May 2021) developed by NSW Geographical Names Board (GNB).

The NSW Geographical Names Board policy ensures that road, street, lane and open space names are broadly acceptable to the community and meet current norms and standards.

The NSW Geographical Names Board encourages place names that reflect the heritage, cultures and identity of a site which makes the place distinctive and memorable for residents and the wider community. As per the NSW Geographical Names Board process, research has been undertaken to identify significant stories and histories of the area.

The NSW Government “Places to Love” program is designed to make public spaces more vibrant and active using trials, pop-ups and semi-permanent changes to test ideas and build the case for longer term change.

The aim of the funding at the Phillip Street laneway is to improve the sense of place, connectivity and pedestrian safety through a combination of place naming, artwork, street furniture, and activation.