West Dapto Suburbs names shortlist revealed

We know that choosing the name for a new suburb is important to our community. That’s why we’re calling for your feedback on the shortlisted names for two of the three future suburbs planned for West Dapto.

West Dapto is a fast-growing community and we need to make sure that the size and names of our suburbs align with the Geographical Name Board’s guidelines.

To achieve this, we’re proposing that Kembla Grange, Huntley and Avondale be divided to establish three additional suburbs.

In March 2020, we invited you to suggest names and provide feedback on the current names as part of Phase One of the West Dapto Suburb Review Project. Our community responded to the first round of engagement with over 80 new name suggestions.

Since then, Wollongong City Council’s Project Team and community working groups reviewed and researched the name nominations to create a shortlist of suitable names.

Of the six shortlisted names, four names have been endorsed to go on exhibition through the Our Wollongong website for community feedback. Two of the shortlisted names — McPhail and Guwara — have been excluded for exhibition and Council staff will investigate further naming options with residents for the new suburb adjacent to Kembla Grange.

Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said that choosing a name for a suburb was important as communities are often understandably attached to the names of their hometowns.

“Suburb names can have a lot of meaning to people, they’re a connection to place. These are more than just addresses, they represent places where families were born, children went to school and relationships with community were built. For some people their identity is connected to a location and therefore they are passionate about a name.”

“I’d like to acknowledge the hard work and passion of the community working groups and residents who created the shortlist of suburb names as part of Phase One of the project. All of the proposed names hold meaning in the community, so we ask that people are respectful when sharing their opinion.”

The existing names, Kembla Grange, Huntley and Avondale have been recommended to remain in use with revised suburb boundaries.

The shortlisted names for the new West Dapto suburbs are:

• Murrindarry — meaning Mount Marshall, The Mountain
• Woolangurry — meaning track over the mountain
• Lindsay
• Murringah - meaning coal

Three of the proposed names — Murrindarry, Woolangurry and Murringah — come from the local Dharawal language. As part of our public exhibition process, Council will engage an Aboriginal cultural linguist specialist, Aboriginal language holders and Traditional Custodian Groups to advise on the correct pronunciation of these names.

The four shortlisted names is on exhibition on the Our Wollongong website for six weeks.

“Now’s the chance to get involved in the West Dapto Suburbs Review Project. I know that choosing a name for a suburb can often come down to a personal preference, so I highly encourage all community members to get involved and submit feedback while you have the chance,” said Cr Bradbery.

Community members have until Wednesday 16 December 2020 to submit feedback. To find out more or to join the conversation, visit the Our Wollongong website or call Customer Service on (02) 4227 7111.