We're seeking community feedback, via submissions, on a proposal to name an unnamed road reserve in a new Rutherglen subdivision, Bulleid Court.

Councils are the naming authority for roads and places within their jurisdiction and play a key role in ensuring proposed names comply with the Naming Rules for Places in Victoria and are acceptable to the Registrar of Geographic Names.

Indigo Shire Council has also adopted its own Road and Place Naming Policy to guide local naming decisions.

Background

Following a recent development, a 14-lot subdivision has been proposed opposite 37 and 39 Meehan Street, Rutherglen, with the new subdivision proposing an unnamed court entrance between lot two and lot three for central access to lots five to 14. To provide the subdivision with a formal address, the road requires a designated name.

In accordance with Council’s Road and Place Naming Policy, the subdivision developer submitted a proposed name for consideration. The Rutherglen Historical Society also provided several name suggestions, including one that matched the developer’s submission.

Council recommends that the unnamed road be named Bulleid Court in honour of sisters Maude, Catherine, and Johanna Bulleid, recognising their integral support to the community. The sisters grew up in this location with their historic family home being across from the current land proposal. The more recent Bulleid family home is still at the location opposite this land and has always been known as the ‘the Bulleid” residence despite present owners and their name.

Maude Terrill (nee Bulleid) (1897 – unknown), Catherine Bulleid (1899 – 1985), and Johanna Bulleid (1901 – 1994) have always been referred to as kind, generous and philanthropic with their substantial donations to town projects and are remembered as having donated significant amounts of money to various causes and kind to people in their immediate neighbourhood, especially so if experiencing challenging life circumstances.

Key Features

Council proposes that the unnamed road in the new subdivision be called Bulleid Court. This satisfies legislative requirements through the following considerations:

• Victorian Gender Equality Strategy and Action Plan 2023 it is Council’s role as a naming authority to implement a new initiative aimed at increasing the commemoration of women through the naming of roads, features and localities
• A commemorative name should consider:
  • the person’s achievements,
  • relevant history and association to the area, and
  • the significance of the family/person to the area/land
• Geographic Names Victoria will work with naming authorities, including local government, to increase the commemoration of women in place naming, by setting a level of 70% of new requests for commemorative naming of new roads, placenames and landmarks
• The Road and Place Naming Policy supports the use of names that reflect Council’s commitment to recognising local identity, inclusivity, and cultural and historical significance by placing an emphasis on the themes of Traditional Owner Culture and Languages, Commemorative Naming (and Gender Equality), and Linking Name to Place

Provide your feedback

Submissions can be emailed to info@indigoshire.vic.gov.au. Should any person making a submission wish to appear in person, or be represented by a person, at a meeting to be heard, please state this intention in your submission.

Feedback closes 5pm, Wednesday 26 November 2025.

All submissions will be considered before the proposed road name is presented to Council for adoption in December 2025.