Naming places

The Guidelines for Geographic Names 2010 sets out the procedures and principles for naming, renaming and adjusting the boundaries of geographic features, localities and roads in Victoria.

VICNAMES is the state’s official Register of Geographic Names. It contains more than 200,000 place names including cities, towns, suburbs, regions, roads, landscape features, recreational reserves, transport stations, schools, hospitals, national parks, forests, reserves and tracks. It is free to search place names and add historical information.

The Registrar of Geographic Names is responsible for recording place names and maintains VICNAMES.

	Geographic Place Names Advisory Panel committee vacancy The Registrar of Geographic Names is seeking to fill a vacancy on the Geographic Place Names Advisory Panel (Indigenous Names Advisory Committee). The panel is seeking membership of someone of Victorian Indigenous cultural heritage and/or with expertise in Indigenous place names, languages, linguistics and/or engagement.
	Guidelines for naming and proposing a name The principles, policies and procedures for naming places or proposing a name in Victoria are set out in the Guidelines for Geographic Names 2010. Also see supplementary documents to the guidelines and information about Indigenous place names.
	Proposals View the status of recent proposals received by the Registrar for Geographic Names for features, locality boundaries, and roads.
	VICNAMES To find the name of a feature, road or naming authority search Victoria's online Register of Geographic Names, VICNAMES. View the VICNAMES User Guide and user notes.
	Locality names and boundary maps View maps indicating official boundaries for each locality in Victoria that have been approved by the Registrar of Geographic Names and notified in the Victoria Government Gazette.
	Notification for Editing Service (NES) If registered to use NES, a government department, government authority or local council can submit a proposal to name a feature, amend a locality boundary or record a name.
	News and current projects Find out the latest projects and news on naming places in Victoria.
	Contact us For expert advice on naming processes in Victoria, enquiries about major projects and naming proposals, and links related naming websites.