Wollongong could soon have three new suburbs inspired by the region's escarpment, high winds, coal history and early white occupiers as the council moves to split three of its fast-growing suburbs in half.
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The West Dapto suburbs of Kembla Grange, Huntley and Avondale are growing too large due to the rapid residential expansion in the area, the council says, and need to be split into small locales to meet NSW Government suburb guidelines.
It announced in March that it was seeking ideas for new names for these areas, and also planned to ask the community whether the existing names should be retained for parts of the suburb.
Now, after months of consultation with the public and the NSW Geographical Names Board, the council will place six new names on public exhibition.
The eastern part of Avondale, South part of Huntley and eastern part of Kembla Grange are all recommended to stay with their exisiting names.
The new names are Murrindarry (Dharawal for the mountain, which applies to the area near Mount Marshall), Woolangurry (the track over the mountain), Lindsay (long term residents of West Dapto, with strong family associations in farming and retail) , Murringah (coal), Guwara (high winds) and McPhail (the family received an original land grant in Kembla Grange, erecting Stan Dyke Homestead and donating land for West Dapto School).
The name Knapp, which refers to one of the original surveyors of land in West Dapto, is also shown on a council shortlist map (pictured) but officers have recommended it be removed.
Officers said the GNB suggested that the potential misspelling of Knapp, due to the silent 'k', is a pertinent concern.
One of the rejected names was Arkell, which was deemed not significant to West Dapto and "sensitive" due to its reference to the murdered former Lord Mayor of Wollongong, Frank Arkell, who was embroiled in child pornography and paedophilia scandals in the years leading up to his death.
Other rejected suggestions included Bong Bong, which was rejected because it's being used extensively in the Wingecarribbee Shire, Burelli, Dunlop Vale, Flame Tree, Goon, Soldiers Rest, Temple District, and William Beach Park.
Joke suggestions put forward when the council first floated the name change on social media in March - including Suburb McSuburbface, Daptodale, Dapto Reach, South-West Dapto, Kembla Downs and Farmborough Lows - were not considered.
If supported by councillors, the short list will go on exhibition for six weeks.
Kate McIlwain
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
