Connection to country
Celebrating the ongoing connection Bunurong Boonwurrung and Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung peoples have maintained to Fishermans Bend for thousands of years.
In late 2023, we heard from the local Fishermans Bend community and stakeholders who shared their stories and connections to Fishermans Bend and how this should be celebrated through place naming (Phase 1 Engagement). Read the community consultation summary.
The draft Fishermans Bend Place Naming Framework has been informed by the outcomes of Phase 1 Engagement, together with further research into Fishermans Bend and updates to Victorian Government and City of Melbourne naming policy and guidelines. Phase 1 engagement has informed the five naming themes, spatial maps identifying significant sites, and a framework to identify a suitable place name.
Read the draft Fishermans Bend Place Naming Framework (PDF 8.58MB) or draft Fishermans Bend Place Naming Framework- accessible version (MS Word 19.28MB).
You can have your say on the draft Fishermans Bend Place Naming Framework by:
Consultation closes 7 September 2025.
Five naming themes have been identified that represent important aspects of Fishermans Bend’s local culture, history and future aspirations.
These have been categorised into priority municipal themes and precinct themes. The draft Fishermans Bend Place Naming Framework expands on each theme’s significance to Fishermans Bend, legislative and community engagement context, significant stories if applicable, imagery and example place names.
Naming themes will overlap as the many histories of the area are interwoven. We encourage future place names to relate to more than one naming theme as this grows the significance of a future name. For example, women who shaped the early automotive, aviation, defence and science industries of Fishermans Bend, particularly during World War II.
Celebrating the ongoing connection Bunurong Boonwurrung and Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung peoples have maintained to Fishermans Bend for thousands of years.
Celebrating women who have shaped Fishermans Bend throughout history, playing critical roles in industry as well as being community advocates and local sporting legends.
Celebrating the diverse communities that have lived and worked in Fishermans Bend throughout history, such as the wharfies working the Port and those who called the Migrant Hostel home in the 1950s.
Celebrating Fishermans Bend's strong industrial legacy including automotive and aviation production, science innovations and food production including the creation of vegemite!
Celebrating the landscape and ecological features that have shaped Fishermans Bend’s history and present day, such as the Birrarung (Yarra River) and Westgate Park.
The draft Fishermans Bend Place Naming Framework outlines a two-step approach to identify a name or multiple names for new roads, parks or other public places within Fishermans Bend:
Please refer to the draft Fishermans Bend Place Naming Framework, Part C: Application of Naming Framework for further detail and examples of applying the draft Naming Framework to identify a name.
In Phase 1 Engagement we identified significant historic and present-day sites and areas within Fishermans Bend. We would like to hear more!
Pin a story or significant site and a brief description to the map that aligns with one of the five naming themes. If your contribution relates to more than one naming theme, include this in your description.
Banner image: Modellers producing a ⅛" scale model of a proposed Holden car at the Fishermans Bend General Motors Holden engineering studio, around 1946, courtesy of the N Darwin Collection.