Guidelines for naming or proposing to name or rename a place

Guidelines for Geographic Names 2010
Guidelines by section
Supplementary documents to the Guidelines for Geographic Names 2010 and checklists
Examples of Naming/Renaming Proposals
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) Guidelines
Recommended spelling of Indigenous place names
Information Session Presentations

Guidelines for Geographic Names 2010

If you are interested in the process and procedures for naming places you will find in the Guidelines for Geographic Names 2010 step-by-step information on naming, renaming or changing the boundaries of features, localities and roads in Victoria.

These guidelines, provided for in the Geographic Place Names Act 1998, are mandatory for naming authorities in Victoria. They have been developed through detailed consultation with municipal councils, government departments and emergency response and public service providers. The guidelines are based on national standards and policies and provide a strong basis for standardised and unambiguous naming procedures across the state.

You can either download the complete Guidelines for Geographic Names 2010 or download just the sections in which you are interested. Please note that Sections 2 (Features), 3 (Localities) and 4 (Roads) must be read in conjunction with Section 1 (Principles and Procedures).

When using the guidelines please refer to the supplementary documents - Consulting with the wider community, Consulting with Indigenous groups, Checklists - for additional information.

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

The guidelines are divided into four main sections: Section 1: Purpose and Principles, Section 2: Features, Section 3: Localities and Section 4: Roads.

The information in Section 1 should be used in conjunction with the various principles and procedures outlined in Sections 2, 3 and 4.

Guidelines for Geographic Names 2010

[PDF File - 1.1 MB]

Guidelines by section

	Section 1: Principles and Procedures Section 1 includes general information about the naming process and details the principles applying to all cases of naming, renaming or changing the boundary of a feature, locality or road. The information in this section should be used in conjunction with the various principles and procedures outlined in Sections 2, 3 and 4. Section 1 Principles and Procedures [PDF File - 447.0 KB] Section 1 Principles and Procedures (accessible version) [MS Word Document - 1.5 MB]
	Section 2: Features This section outlines how features can be named, renamed or have their boundaries and spatial reference points realigned. Information included in Section 2 is to be used in conjunction with the principles and policies outlined in Section 1 of these guidelines. Section 2 Features [PDF File - 165.8 KB] Section 2 Features (accessible version) [MS Word Document - 923.0 KB] For a list of approved feature types please refer to the attached spreadsheet. Feature types spreadsheet [MS Excel Document - 114.5 KB] Feature types spreadsheet (accessible version) [File - 73.0 KB]
	Section 3: Localities This section outlines how localities in Victoria can be named and renamed, and also defines how the boundaries can be altered. Information included in Section 3 is to be used in conjunction with the principles and policies outlined in Section 1 of these guidelines. Section 3 Localities [PDF File - 458.2 KB] Section 3 Localities (accessible version) [MS Word Document - 2.0 MB]
	Section 4: Roads This section provides information on how ‘coordinating road authorities’ (municipal councils or government departments and authorities) can name roads – both public and private – within their jurisdictions. Information included in Section 4 is to be used in conjunction with the principles and policies outlined in Section 1 of these guidelines. Section 4 Roads [PDF File - 292.9 KB] Section 4 Roads (accessible version) [MS Word Document - 1.2 MB]

Supplementary documents to the Guidelines for Geographic Names 2010

The supplementary documents below should be used in conjunction with the guidelines when naming, renaming and adjusting the boundaries of geographic features, localities and roads.

	Consulting with the wider community This document outlines the recommended processes for consulting with the wider community when naming and renaming geographic features, localities and roads. Consulting with the wider community [PDF File - 357.4 KB] Consulting with the wider community (accessible version) [MS Word Document - 781.5 KB]
	Consulting with Indigenous groups This document outlines the recommended processes for consulting with Indigenous groups when naming or renaming a feature, locality or road with a name derived from a traditional Indigenous Australian language. Consulting with Indigenous Groups [PDF File - 364.7 KB] Consulting with Indigenous Groups (accessible version) [MS Word Document - 1.4 MB]
	Checklists The checklists should be used to ensure correct processes are followed when naming or renaming a feature, locality or road. Checklists [PDF File - 391.1 KB] Checklists (accessible version) [MS Word Document - 1.6 MB]

Examples of Naming/Renaming Proposals

A set of naming proposal examples has been compiled for use by councils. The set of examples include council proposals for feature naming, road renaming, locality boundary changing and public naming competitions. You can obtain these by contacting the Office of Geographic Names on (03) 8636 2525 or by emailing geo.names@dse.vic.gov.au.

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Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) Guidelines

The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development is the coordinating naming authority for schools. Local councils are now consulted and invited to comment on any school naming proposal, but are no longer required to coordinate the naming process. See the DEECD Guidelines for the naming of schools.

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Recommended spelling of Indigenous place names

For many reasons there are multiple ways Victorian Indigenous languages have been spelt in historical records. If you are using the VICNAMES historical information database to submit historical information relating to a Victorian Indigenous language, please refer to VICNAMES User Guide - Appendix 2: Recommended Spelling for Victorian Nations/Language Groups

[File - 7.8 KB], provided by the Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages (VACL).

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Information Session Presentations

A series of statewide information sessions promoting the guidelines were held across Victoria during September 2010.

Representatives from the Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority and Australia Post discussed the importance of standardised naming and addressing practices and staff of the Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages discussed principles of Indigenous place naming and community engagement.

Demonstrations of the Notification for Editing Service (NES) system and associated Vicmap products were also provided by representatives from DSE's Spatial Information Infrastructure.

Copies of the information session presentations are available by contacting us on (03) 8636 2525 or emailing geo.names@dse.vic.gov.au

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Please note: Document(s) on this page are presented in PDF format. If you do not have the Adobe Reader, you can download a copy free from the Adobe web site.