For the first time, a majority—57%—of new commemorative places names in Victoria were dedicated to women. Kerry Wilson, who leads the “Put Her Name on It” project, highlighted this achievement as a step toward the state’s goal of 70% female representation in place names, as outlined in the 2023-2027 gender equality strategy.
In 1898, Ethel Mary Vaughan Cowan became the first female doctor at Melbourne’s Children’s Hospital, paving the way for future generations of women in medicine.
In 2024, her contributions were honored with the naming of Cowan Lane in Carlton, located near the hospital’s former site. Cowan was one of 31 women commemorated through new place names in Victoria last year, compared to 23 places named after men.
“In 2022, only 25% of commemorative names honored women. This increased to 35% in 2023, and in 2024, we have achieved a remarkable cumulative result,” Wilson said.
With Victoria’s continuous growth, over 6,000 new places will require names in the next three years. Around 25% of these will be named after individuals, and the public is encouraged to nominate local women who deserve recognition by June 30.
“Place names hold significance—they reflect our history and who we choose to honor,” said Natalie Hutchins, Victoria’s Minister for Women. “By increasing the number of places named after women, we are ensuring their contributions are acknowledged for generations.”
Among the women recently honored are poet and activist Lisa Bellear, commemorated with Warrior Woman Lane in Carlton in 2018, and Divinyls singer Chrissy Amphlett, whose name was given to Amphlett Lane in Melbourne’s CBD in 2015.
Despite progress, women remain significantly underrepresented, with only 10% of place names in Victoria and a mere 3% of public artworks dedicated to them.
Clare Wright, a history professor at La Trobe University, has worked extensively to address this disparity. In 2019, she co-founded A Monument of One’s Own to advocate for more statues recognizing women.
“When we started, only nine of Melbourne’s 580 statues depicted historical female figures. The government is only now beginning to address this imbalance,” Wright said.
She attributes the gender gap to systemic patriarchy, explaining that historically, power structures have celebrated and memorialized men’s achievements far more than women’s.
The City of Melbourne is also taking steps to correct this imbalance by commissioning a new statue of suffragist and social activist Vida Goldstein, who played a key role in securing women’s voting rights in Australia.
“Vida’s statue in the heart of the city will serve as a powerful symbol for young people—showing them that they don’t have to accept the status quo, but can push for change and achieve great things.”
