Charlestown Street Names Clive Read 2008 Aberfeldy Close On a LMSC street name list Aberfeldy is a town in the U.K. Aberfeldy Close was named in 1972. Abrahams Lane Previously an unnamed lane, Abrahams Lane was named after H. Abrahams of Charlestown, a WW2 veteran. This was gazetted on 14 April 2001. Aintree Close On a LMSC street name list Aintree is a town in the U.K. Aintree Close was named in 1973. Aldrin Close Buzz Aldrin was the second man to walk on the moon in 1969. Aldrin, Armstrong, and Conrad are companion street names. Aldrin Avenue was developed by Landcom in 1970 on former BHP land. Alexander Parade Alexander Parade was named in 1973. Algona Road Algona is an Aboriginal word meaning ‘a mountain’’. (Source: “Australian Women’s Weekly, Aboriginal word list”, 1961). Originally part of Kulai and Belmont Road, it was gazetted Algona Road on the 27 th September 1968. Alisha Close Alisha Close, a private street, was named in 1994 after Alisha Potessu by her godparents, landowners Barbara and Victor Manitta. This was part of the Charlestown Palms Development project. Alvestor Close Alvestor Close was named in 1972. Anjon Close Anjon Street was named in 1959. Apollo Drive Apollo 11 was the first manned space craft to land on the moon. Apollo Drive was developed by Landcom in 1970, on former BHP land. Armstrong Road In 1969, U.S. astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon. Armstrong Road was developed by Landcom in 1983, on former BHP land. Arnold Street Arnold Street was named in 1901. Attunga Close Attunga is an Aboriginal word meaning “high place,” (Source: ‘Australian Aboriginal Words’ by H.M. Cooper). Attunga Close was named in 1961. 1 Baikie Crescent Baikie Crescent was named in 1952. Any information on this street name is welcome. Baloo Crescent Baloo is an Aboriginal word meaning “moon.” (Source: “Australian Aboriginal Words” by H.M. Cooper.) Baloo Close was named in 1980. Bank Street Bank Street is said to be named from the old mine railway embankment. The name was removed when it became part of Charlestown Square. Batai Street Bati is an eastern Australian Aboriginal word meaning ‘more’. (Source: L.E. Threlkeld). Bati Street was named in 1941. Benaud Street Richie Benaud was a former Australian Test Cricket Captain with a remarkable flair for leadership. A companion street is named after fellow Australian cricketing great Sir Donald Bradman. Benaud Street was named in 1967. Bianca Close Bianca Close was named in 1988. There are a number of ‘first name’ street names in Charlestown. Biraban Street Biraban is an Aboriginal word from the Awabakal dialect and refers to the cries of the eagle hawk, ‘bira bira’. It was also known to be a man’s name. (Source: L.E. Threlkeld). Biraban Street was named in 1938. Birkwood Street On a LMCC street name list, Birkwood is listed as a town in the U.K. Birkwood Street was named in 1986. Birrong Place Birrong is an Aboriginal word meaning ‘star’ (Source: ‘Aboriginal Words and Meanings’ by S.J. Endacott). Birrong Place was named in 1961. Boldon Close Boldon Close was named in 1973. Boldon is a town in the U.K. Bradman Street Sir Donald Bradman was an Australian Test Cricket Captain. Don Bradman, or ‘The Don’, as he was colloquially known, broke many cricketing records and was an exceptional sportsman. Bradman Street was named in 1967. Brett Street Previously a part of Fraser Parade, Brett Street was gazetted on the 3 October 1980. Bukka Street Bukka is an Awabakal Aboriginal word meaning ‘to be wrathful, to be furious’. (Source: L.E. Threlkeld). Bukka Street was named in 1941. 2 Bula Street Bula is an Awabakal Aboriginal word meaning ‘dual, we two’. (Source: L.E. Threlkeld). Bula Street was named in 1939. The Charlestown Palms Development occurred in Bula Street in the early 1990s. Not many of the original planted palms remain. Buller Street Buller Street was named in the early 1950s. Buwa Street Buwa is an Awabakal Aboriginal word meaning ‘strike’. (Source: ‘Awabakal Word Finder’ by J. Maynard). Buwa Street was named in 1957. Camrose Street On a Lake Macquarie Municipal Council street name list, Camrose is listed as a town in the U.S. Camrose Street was named in 1978. Canberra Street Canberra is derived from an Aboriginal word and is usually translated as ‘meeting place’, and would be an appropriate name for the site of a national parliament if this definitely were the derivation. Unfortunately, this is not so. Like most Aboriginal names, the meaning is the subject of conjecture and dispute. (Source ‘Australian Place Names’ by B & B Kennedy). Part of Buller Street, shown on a 1955 Council map, was renamed Canberra Street. Carl Street Formerly part of Park Street, it was gazetted Carl Street on the 5 December 1975. Castle Close Castle Close was surveyed by Monteath & Powys, Newcastle. R.W. Sheargold Pty Ltd, the developers, has established a theme of medieval and semi-royal street names in Lake Macquarie. Castle Close was named in 1989 – a castle on a hill. Chapman Street Sir Austin Chapman, a highly respected NSW politician, became a member of the first national Parliament post Federation in 1901. Chapman Street was named as such in 1901, a companion street name with connecting Hopetoun Street. Charles Street This street is believed to be named after Charles Smith, the general manager of South Waratah Coal Co in 1876. Charles Street is connected to Smith Street. Charles Street was named in 1944. Charlestown Road On a 1914 plan, Charlestown Road is named Main Government Road although locally it was known as New Lambton Road. Residents of Lambton Road, Charlestown complained of debris from the quarry after blasting, falling on their homes. (Source: NMH 4 December 1944). On 15 February 1957, it was officially gazetted as Charlestown Road. A section of Ida Street became part of Charlestown Road, main road 23. Captain Thunderbolt, the infamous bushranger, was once reportedly near the site of what was to become Charlestown Road. (Source: ‘The Post’, 2 November 1967). 3 Chelsea Lane Previously an unnamed lane it was gazetted Chelsea Lane on 28 July 2000. Chelsea, a girl’s name, would have been chosen to complement the connecting streets Maureen Crescent and Elizabeth Parade. Chelston Close On a LMSC street name list Chelston is a town in the U.K. Chelston Close was developed by Hooker Town Developments in 1971. Chester Close On a LMSC street name list Chester is listed as a town in the U.S. Chester Close was named in 1969. Chesterfield Lane Previously an unnamed lane, Chesterfield Lane was named after J.L. Chesterfield of Charlestown, a Lake Macquarie WW2 veteran. This was gazetted on the 14 March 2001. Conifer Close Previously an unnamed street, it was gazetted Conifer Close on the 4 July 1997. Conifer are a worldwide family of trees, a number are native to Australia. Conrad Avenue Charles Peter Conrad was the Commander of the Apollo 12 spacecraft on the second manned moon landing. Conrad Avenue was developed by Landcom in 1970, on former BHP land. Coolac Close Coolac is an Aboriginal name meaning ‘native bear’ (koala). (Source: ‘The Australian Museum’ by F.D. McCarthy). Originally part of Yurig Street, it was gazetted as Coolac Close on the 23 January 1987. Courtney Close Courtney Close was named in 1979. Cowper Close Cowper Avenue was named in 1920. Crescent Road Crescent Road was named in 1959; this name would have come from its crescent shape. Creswell Avenue Early Charlestown resident Abraham Creswell was a locomotive driver at South Waratah (Raspberry Gully) mine. He owned the first motor car in Charlestown, a 1917 Model T Ford, and the object of great attention. His son Walter followed his father’s occupation at the mine. During the 1960s, Walter was Charlestown’s oldest citizen. Creswell Avenue was named in 1964 and may have been named after this family by the Advisory Committee. Daisley Crescent Daisley Crescent was named in 1954. Damian Close Damian Close was named in 1986. 4 Dea Place Dea Place was named in 1961. Dickinson Street Dickinson Street was surveyed on the 29 April 1876 on DP216 Plan of Waratah Coal Company’s new township Charlestown. Downing Street Downing Street was developed by James Mullen Pty Ltd in 1992. Designed to impress, Downing Street was named after the famous Downing Street in London. Downing Street is a companion street with nearby Wall Close. Dudley Street In 1888, South Burwood Colliery opened, changing its name to Dudley in 1891. Dudley Road, connecting Dudley and Charlestown, was shown unnamed on early maps but would have been known locally by this name for some time before it was named officially. Ede Close Ede Close was named in 1968. Edward Street On a Royal Tour, Edward, the Prince of Wales, visited Lake Macquarie in 1920. Edward Street was named in 1921, a companion street name with Princes Avenue. EK Avenue According to popular local legend, EK Avenue was named after the initials of one of the residents, Elsie Keevers. It has also been said that bus conductors often used to call out “Elsie Keevers' stop” when passing by the street. After this, the intersection of this road with Warners Bay Road became a bus ‘section’ and the name was shortened to E.K. In 1931, a private bus service was commenced in Charlestown; this was taken over by the Government in 1937. In 1943 EK Avenue was officially named. The Keevers’ family house was at the intersection of EK Avenue and Warners Bay Road but was later destroyed by a bushfire.