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About the program

The Our equal places program, led by Geographic Names Victoria (GNV), is working to make commemorative place names in Victoria more diverse and inclusive.

Victorians from all backgrounds have shaped our state, but many of their stories are not reflected in our place names.

From 2024 to 2027, more than 6,000 new places in Victoria will need names, including roads, parks, schools and buildings. Around a quarter of these will be commemorative names.

The program focuses on increasing recognition for underrepresented groups, including:

  • women
  • First Nations peoples
  • LGBTQIA+ people
  • people with disability
  • people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Councils, government agencies and Traditional Owner groups are responsible for naming places in Victoria.

How you can get involved

  1. Nominate a person (Remember a Local)
  2. Use Finding Her resources to build your submission
  3. Councils consider names through their name bank

Remember a local – Name a place

Stylised graphic image of a hypothetical map showing features that could be named after people. Next to the features are place names as they would show on a map, which playfully suggest family and local heroes who could be nominated, including: Artist Bridge, Legendary Teacher School, Uncle Road, Coach Stadium, Sister Street, Veteran Gardens, Foster Parent Lane and Nonna Street. In the top left there is a shield shape with the campaign title: ‘Remember a local – Name a place’.

Do you know an unsung hero who has left a lasting legacy in your community?

We invite all Victorians to nominate someone who has made a significant contribution to their local area for a commemorative place name.

Submit your nomination using the Remember a Local – Name a Place form on Engage Victoria. Councils will consider these names when new places need naming.

Visit Engage Victoria

Not all nominations are ready straight away. If you need help preparing your nomination, you can use the Finding Her resources below to strengthen your submission.

Victoria’s gender equality target

The Victorian Government aims to have 70 per cent of new commemorative place names honour women each year, as part of Victoria’s gender equality strategy and action plan 2023–2027.

Geographic Names Victoria (GNV) is helping naming authorities reach this target with campaigns, tools and partnerships, including the Remember a Local – Name a Place campaign on Engage Victoria.

GNV is also partnering with Gender Equity Victoria and Her Place Women’s Museum Australia on a range of initiatives that will support naming authorities in their work towards gender equality in place naming.

Partners

Gender Equity Victoria

Gender Equity Victoria is working with councils and us to review and share data on gender equality in Victoria’s place names and public art. They are also providing tools, resources, workshops and forums for naming authorities through the Put Her Name on It campaign.

These initiatives help naming authorities meet the commemorative naming target and their obligations under the Gender Equality Act 2020.

Read more about the Put Her Name on It campaign at Gender Equity Victoria.

Her Place Women’s Museum Australia

Her Place Women’s Museum Australia is working with us to deliver the Finding Her project. Her Place runs a public museum at Abbotsford Convent in Melbourne, as well as the Finding Her digital map, research hub and advisory services. These resources help make the stories and achievements of women and gender diverse people more visible in our public spaces.

Naming authorities, organisations and communities can use Finding Her to:

  • identify women to commemorate
  • access historical research
  • strengthen nomination proposals.

Finding Her resources and support

The Finding Her Resource Hub provides practical tools to support commemorative place naming. The resource suite includes:

  • guidance on commemoration and cultural sensitivity
  • biography research guidance and templates
  • nomination and submission tools aligned with GNV requirements
  • family engagement templates
  • a submission readiness checklist.

These resources help you turn your idea into a nomination, making sure your proposal is well researched, culturally appropriate and ready for consideration.

Her Place also offers specialist support, including research, biography development, community engagement and help with nominations for more complex projects.

You can visit Her Place Women’s Museum in Melbourne to explore exhibitions and learn more about the women recognised through this work.

Browse the Finding Her map, access resources or plan a visit to Her Place Women’s Museum.

Page last updated: 08/05/26