Consultation on the proposed naming of Council Laneway CL1163 and the adjoining unnamed walkway between CL1163 and A’Beckett Street, Melbourne as Benz Lane (the ‘Proposal’) was open from 13 March to 13 April 2025.

The naming is required to provide appropriate addressing for abutting properties, ensure the integrity of Council’s records and support the provision of emergency and statutory services. All name submissions must comply with Naming rules for places in Victoria – Statutory requirements for naming roads, features and localities – 2022. Learn more about our current naming process.

View more information about the proposal below.

Area proposed to be named Benz Lane

Map showing boundary of Council laneway in Melbourne CBD

Background of name

The proposed name honours Hedwig Benz (1910 – 2006), who was the first full time interpreter employed in 1956 at the Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital – a hospital for women – in Melbourne.

Benz was awarded the British Empire Medal in 1972 in recognition of service to migrants in Victoria, for her work at the Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital.

She played a valuable role in removing the responsibility from English-speaking children of migrants in liaising about their mother’s illness with hospital staff.

More information

Naming of City of Melbourne's places and roads