Help celebrate local people, stories and places.

Camden Council is inviting schools and educators to partner in a special initiative that empowers students to nominate names for future places and roads across our growing region.

Place names help shape the identity of our suburbs - they honour individuals, reflect our diverse heritage, and preserve the stories which make the Camden area unique. They also ensure streets, parks and other locations can be clearly and safely identified.

As our district continues to grow, identifying new and suitable names is becoming increasingly challenging. To support this need, Camden Council and the NSW Geographical Names Board are piloting a program that engages students in researching local individuals and suggesting future place names.


What's involved?

  • Participating schools will receive resource packs to support teaching and engagement.
  • Schools can simply promote the initiative to students and their families or use this as an opportunity to enhance learning already part of the curriculum.
  • Students can submit their nominations using the form below.
  • Student nominations will help us build a local Word Bank of meaningful policy-compliant names to use in future naming projects.
  • Suggestions that celebrate our local area and history, recognise First nations peoples, and reflect the diversity of our community are welcome. We're interested in people who made a positive difference in everyday ways e.g. someone who coached a local sport, taught art, provided music lessons, grew things, or volunteered to make meals for the elderly and unwell.
  • Step-by-step instructions

Rewards for participation:

  • Outstanding student nominations will be recognised with awards 👏🎉

This page will be updated with supporting resources and other information as the project progresses. Thanks for helping us to shape how our places are known and recognised for generations to come.

NOMINATION FORM

RESOURCES

Step-by-step instructions

🔗 How to identify and research a person to nominate for a place name (PDF)


Powerpoint Presentation

🔗 Names that tell a story | Resource Pack | Powerpoint Presentation | 1MB

NOTE: A 24MB sized verion of the above Powerpoint Presentation will be emailed to participating schools. If you're unable to locate it please email charmaine.cooper@camden.nsw.gov.au.


Handy Links

Expression of Interest - Schools

Information about the Expression of Interest process can be found at:

🔗 EOI submission form page (Link)

🔗 EOI Flyer - Schools (PDF)


Geographical Names Board Video

EXAMPLES

Geographical Names Board:


FAQs

The Geographical Names Board is the official body for naming and recording details of places and geographical names in the state. Learn more at Geographical Names Board | NSW Government.

Road names are decided by the authority responsible for the road – either local council or Transport for NSW.

In this case, Camden Council is the road naming authority.

The Geographical Names Board sets the guidelines for road names in NSW.

Learn more at How road names are decided | NSW Government

Council follows a Place and Road Naming Policy to name sites. Upon submission, Council will review the name against the policy and GNB guidelines and follow the process (includes internal approvals, consultation with Heritage Advisory, Aboriginal land Council etc) and submit the name to GNB for approval.

This initiative aligns with Stage 4 outcomes across Geography, English, History, and Civics & Citizenship.

Each outcome supports students in developing analytical, research, and communication skills through the lens of local place naming.

Geography: Spatial pattern, place management

Encourages exploration of spatial patterns, mapping tools, and understanding of place management and communication.

History: Historical significance, sequencing events

Focuses on historical significance, sequencing events, and evaluating actions of individuals and groups.

English: Text analysis, creative writing

Develops critical and creative engagement with texts, using place names as inspiration for writing and analysis.

Civics & Citizenship: Democratic participation, identity

Examines naming practices as reflections of community identity and democratic participation.


Students will be provided with participation certificates and prizes will be offered to outstanding nominations.

If schools are interested, we may provide guest speakers upon request.

Council is targeting Term 2, 2026 for the first pilot project. This timeframe may be extended depending on project outcomes and operational requirements.

At this stage nominations will close 3 July 2026.

The NSW Geographical Names Board does not approve names that honour living people. Such proposals frequently cause community division, which is why many naming boards worldwide avoid naming places after people who are still alive. A person must have passed away at least 12 months before they can be commemorated in this way.


You can view place and road names in NSW using SDT Explorer.

Members of the public can research existing place names using the GNB tool: Place name search

You can help update records if you have information about a feature's history, origin, meaning or pronunciation. Go to Place name search:

  • search a place name,
  • click on view info, and
  • add place name information.

COMMEMORATING PEOPLE

Suggestions that celebrate local history, recognise First nations peoples, and reflect the diversity of our community are welcome. We're hoping to identify people who have made a difference in our communities. It might be someone who coached a local sport, taught art, provided music lessons, grew things, or volunteered to make meals for the elderly and unwell.


The Geographical Names Board is the authority for naming places in NSW.

Examples of places that are officially named by the GNB include:

  • parks and reserves
  • suburbs and localities
  • railway stations
  • geographical features like mountains, rivers and beaches.

Learn more about place naming here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/about-nsw/place-naming

Students and staff from participating schools can submit a nomination.

The project may be open to the broader community following this pilot project.

Details of the person you want to nominate, including their:

  • full name
  • date of birth
  • date of death
  • gender
  • background or heritage
  • A summary of the person's connection to the local area
  • A short description of how the person contributed to the local community
  • Supporting documents that you found during your research.

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Charmaine Cooper

Team Leader Community & Stakeholder Engagement | Camden Council

Lisa Powell

Place Names Manager | Geographical Names Board

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