In early 2021, the City of Parramatta Council undertook community engagement around names proposed for two existing lanes located off Wentworth Avenue, opposite Toongabbie Train Station (see images and map below).
Council wanted to make sure that the proposed names reflect current community values.
We worked with the NSW Geographical Names Board (GNB) and other key stakeholders to identify proposed names that meet a number of requirements, including that names reflect the heritage of an area. Click on each of the below names to learn more about why they were proposed.
Mrs Amelia Riley was the postmistress who ran the local Toongabbie Post and Telegraph Office that was located on this site from 1922 (followed by her daughter Nellie, two decades later). A postmistress was highly valued in the local community, with many being honoured as a helpful guide, counsellor and friend to those who migrated to the district.
The local Toongabbie Post and Telegraph Office was located on this site from 1922.
William Bell Riley and his family lived on the site from 1913 to the 1950’s where the lanes now pass through and next to Toongabbie Train Station. During the 1930’s, William was a ‘fettler’, a person who does repairs or maintenance works on railways.
From Wednesday 10 February to Wednesday 3 March 2021, Council sought feedback on three proposed lane names. ‘Postmistress Lane’ proved to be the most popular option, receiving 99 votes, followed next by ‘Fettler Lane’ with 85 votes and then Telegraph Lane (77 votes).
At the City of Parramatta Council meeting held on Monday 12 April 2021, Postmistress Lane and Fettler Lane were endorsed. The names have now been approved by the Geographic Names Board (GNB) and will be gazetted after 11 May 2021.
Lane locations map

Frequently asked questions
The proposed names were prepared in accordance with Council's Road Naming Policy and the NSW Geographical Names Board Place Naming Policy.
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.
Please click on each of the names on the main section of this page for a better understanding about why each of the names has been proposed.
As per the NSW Geographical Names Board policy, Council has undertaken preliminary consultation.
The proposed names have been given preliminary suitability by the NSW Geographical Names Board, with Council now undertaking broader community consultation to seek feedback.
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 and must also meet emergency services, postal and navigation requirements.
The Geographical Names Board of NSW ‘NSW Road Naming Policy’ outlines the guidelines for naming roads. The guidelines can be accessed at www.gnb.nsw.gov.au. In summary, proposed names should be:
- Unique - the name should not already exist in the Local Government Area or neighbouring Local Government Areas
- If naming after a person, the person cannot be living and first names are to be avoided
- Not be offensive or likely to cause offense
- Appropriate to the physical, historical and cultural character of the local area
- Cannot be a company or business name
- Must be easy to read, spell and pronounce
- Use of hyphens should be avoided
- Should include an appropriate road type suffix e.g. road, street, avenue
- In most cases should only be one word, however two may be appropriate if required for the geographical relationship of the road, e.g. New England Highway.
Council will review the community feedback and confirm the final selection before submitting to the NSW Geographical Names Board for consideration and endorsement.
The names selected will first need to be endorsed by Council before being sent to the GNB for approval and then gazetting. After gazetting, the names will be placed on relevant signs and be made available on official maps. This is anticipated to be completed by mid-2021.