Follow these guidelines when naming roads and streets. All formed roads that are regularly accessed should be named.
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Unique names
A road name must be unique within an official suburb or rural location. Duplicated names must be changed to avoid confusion – for example, to make sure emergency services are not delayed. Duplicated names in nearby suburbs or locations should also be avoided. However, roads that cross council boundaries should have a single, unique name.
Similar names – for example, Paice, Payce or Pace – should be avoided within that suburb or location.
Roads that have been assigned a route number shall have one name.
Road names should be continuous from the logical start of the road to the logical end of the road. This includes if the name crosses council boundaries, landforms and intersecting roads.
Name sources
Preferred sources for road names include:
- Indigenous names taken from the local Indigenous language
- early explorers, pioneers, and settlers
- eminent persons
- local history
- thematic names such as flora, fauna, ships
- war and casualty lists
- commemorative names.
Names should be appropriate to the physical, historical or cultural character of the area.
The origin of each name should be clearly stated and recorded.
The local Indigenous community should be consulted when choosing Indigenous names or using words from relevant Indigenous languages, unless council already has an agreed list of appropriate names.
Appropriate names
Names of living persons should be avoided.
Avoid names which are considered:
- offensive or likely to give offence
- incongruous - out of place
- commercial or company communication.
Communicating names
Names should be reasonably easy to read, spell and pronounce by service providers, emergency services and the travelling public.
Unduly long names and names composed of two or more words should be avoided:
- Given names should only be included with a family name if must be used to identify an individual or where it will avoid ambiguity. The use of given names should generally be avoided.
- Street and cul-de-sac names should have only one word. However, some roads could require two words because of their geographic relationship, for example, Proof Range Road.
- Roads names with 'to and from' destinations are not accepted – such as Lobethal-Woodside Road, Kadina-Alford Road.
Spelling
The same spelling must be used if a road will use the name of an officially named place or feature. Spelling must be as shown in the State Gazetteer.
Where names have been changed by long established local usage, adopt the spelling that is sanctioned by general use. This is unless the local community accepts that the original name should be retained.
Road names, proposed or approved, should not contain abbreviations. For example, the Creek in Wallaby Creek Road must not be abbreviated. There are two exceptions:
- St should always be used in place of Saint
- Mt is acceptable for Mount.
Punctuation
The apostrophe mark ['] must be left off in the possessive case, for example, Smith’s Road should be Smiths Road. The possessive 's' can be used if leaving it off sounds harsh or is awkward to say, for example, Devil Elbow.
Hyphens should be avoided.
Road types
Proposals should include an appropriate road type suffix, such as:
- The suffix chosen should be compatible with the class and type of road. It should help motorists and pedestrians.
- A road with a geometric or geographic feature should have a suffix which matches its form. For example:
- Crescent – a crescent or half moon, re-joining a road
- Esplanade – open, level and often along the seaside or a river.
- Place, close, court should be used for a cul-de-sac.
- Road types specifically associated with the SA main road network are recognised but have not been listed below (for example HWY for Highway etc).
- Highway (HWY) should be specifically reserved for roads associated with the state arterial road network. Its use should be restricted to roads of strategic importance constructed to a high standard.
An expanded road type list and acceptable abbreviations can be sourced from Australian Standards AS/NZS 4819:2011.
Alley | Avenue | Boulevard | Bypass |
Circle | Circuit | Circus | Close |
Court | Crescent | Drive | Esplanade |
Grove | Lane | Mews | Parade |
Parkway | Place | Plaza | Promenade |
Road | Row | Square | Street |
Terrace | Walk | Way |
No prefix or additional suffix
The use of a compass point prefix/suffix or an additional suffix such as north or extension should be avoided.
Legislation
The Local Government Act 1999. provides the authority for the naming of roads, as shown below.
Division 5—Names and numbers 219
Power to assign or change the name
- Council can assign or change a name to:
- public roads
- private roads
- public places.
- If a council proposes to change the name of a public road, which runs into the area of an adjoining council, they must:
- give the adjoining council at least 2 months’ notice of the proposed change
- consider any representations made by the adjoining council in response to the notice.
- A council must:
- immediately notify the Surveyor-General, Registrar-General and the Valuer-General of the assignment of a name, or the change of a name, under this section
- provide information about the names of roads and public places in the council's area on request by the Surveyor-General, the Registrar-General or the Valuer-General.
- Public notice must be given of a resolution assigning or changing a name under subsection.
220—Numbering of premises and allotments
- Council may adopt a numbering system for buildings and allotments adjoining a road.
- Council may alter a numbering system, or substitute a new numbering system, under this section.
- Public notice must be given of a resolution adopting, altering or substituting a numbering system for a particular road.
- Council must immediately notify the Valuer-General of a resolution under this section.
- An owner of land must not adopt a number for a building or allotment that is inconsistent with a numbering system adopted by the council under this section.
- Maximum penalty: $2 500
- An owner of land must, at the request of the council, ensure that the appropriate number for the owner's building or allotment is displayed in a form directed or approved by the council.
- Maximum penalty: $750
- Expiation fee: $105
