Oatlands - Origin of Street Names | Parramatta History and Heritage

Aerial view of Burnside, circa 1939. Properties on the south side of Pennant Hills Road are located in Oatlands. Source: Uniting NSW

Oatlands is a suburb of the City of Parramatta local government area, located around 1 kilometre west of Telopea Railway Station, and bounded by the James Ruse Bypass and Kissing Point, Adderton and Pennant Hills Roads.

The area falls within the traditional lands of the Wallamattagal people to the east and the Burramattagal clan of the Darug Nation to the west.

The suburb name ‘Oatlands’ was adopted in the early-1990s, and prior to this it was known as West Dundas.

For more information, here is our brief history on Oatlands.

Name	Origin & Meaning	Source
Acacia Court	Named after one of Australia’s best known and most widely distributed plants.	Ryde District Historical Society. (2016). Origins of the Street Names of Ryde
Airlie Place	Airlie was a Burnside home officially opened in 1913.	The Hills Shire. (2021). Street Name Origins
Alanas Avenue	Origin unknown.
Anne Street	The Shire of Baulkham Hills named Anne Street on June 23, 1953.	Shire Of Baulkham Hills—Naming Of Road—Notice. (1953, July 3). Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales
Bells Road	Possibly acknowledges James Bell who purchased his dairy farm from Robert Green's estate Rock Farm subdivision on 16 February 1906. The street was previously named Saint Street off Green Avenue.
East Belmore Street	Acknowledges Somerset Lowry-Corry, Lord Belmore, who had been appointed Governor of New South Wales in 1868.	Parramatta Council. (199-). Suburban names review, part 1.
Bettington Road	James Brindley Bettington purchased Oatlands in 1840 and was involved in sheep-breeding.	The Hills Shire. (2021). Street Name Origins
Blackwood Place	Blackwood was a Burnside home officially opened in 1921.	The Hills Shire. (2021). Street Name Origins
Blairgowie Place	Blairgowrie, the first Burnside home, was officially opened in 1911.	The Hills Shire. (2021). Street Name Origins
Brooker Avenue	Origin unknown.
Brookside Place	British place name theme.	McAndrew, A. (2002). Carlingford Connexions.
Charles Street	Acknowledging the Australian explorer William Charles Wentworth. The area maintains an explorers of Australia street naming theme.	McAndrew, A. (2002). Carlingford Connexions.
Conway Place	The street naming theme appears to be based on American places.
Cumberland Highway	Reference to County of Cumberland. It was completed in 1988.	Wikipedia. (2021). Cumberland Highway
James Ruse Drive	The genesis of today's Freeway in this location was a narrow lane heading from Kissing Point Road to the Orphan School, a lane which was known as Orphan School Lane or Road. After the function of the Orphan School was changed to become Rydalmere Psychiatric Centre the lane was widened and took the name of Rydalmere Avenue. The erection of the bridge linking the road to Aston Street, Rosehill, in 1963 was the commencement of the Freeway system which is now in place, a system which when completed in the 1980s was named after the famed colonial experimental private farmer, James Ruse.	Parramatta Council. (199-). Suburban names review, part 1.
Pennant Hills Road	First used in 1828. A road leading to the suburb of Pennants Hill. Possible place name origin for the suburb: (1) Name possibly derived from the practice of using flags, or pennants, to signal between Sydney Cove and Parramatta. (2) Named after botanist and zoologist Thomas Pennant (1726-1798) a colleague and friend of Sir Joseph Banks. (3) Named in reference to the Crimson Rosella (Latin: Psittacus pennanti), a common bird in the Pennant Hills area. Also known as Pennant's Parakeet in English bird magazines.	Patrick, T. G. (1994). Street names of Pennant Hills and surrounding suburbs of Beecroft, Cheltenham, Cherrybrook, Thornleigh, Westleigh and West Pennant Hills.
Cumbrae Place	Cumbrae was a Burnside home officially opened in 1912.	The Hills Shire. (2021). Street Name Origins
Edwin Street	Possibly named after Edwin Ross in the mayors, aldermen, local government employees street naming theme in the area.	McAndrew, A. (2002). Carlingford Connexions.
Ellis Street	Most likely named after early landholder Judge Ellis Bent.	Wikipedia. (2021). Ellis Bent
Forsyth Place	The street naming theme appears to be based on American places.
Gardenvale Road	Flower, tree and nature street naming theme. a vale is a valley used in place names or poetically.	McAndrew, A. (2002). Carlingford Connexions.
Gibbons Street	Named after W. K. Gibbons who had a home in West Carlingford called Minden which eventually became a home for boys.	McAndrew, A. (2002). Carlingford Connexions.
Glencoe Avenue	Glencoe was a Burnside home officially opened in 1917.	The Hills Shire. (2021). Street Name Origins
Gollan Avenue	Acknowledges Mr Gollan of Baulkham Hills. The street was between Pennant Hills Road and Old Pennant Hills Road.	Gollan Avenue. (1939, August 23). The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate.
Governors Way	Descriptive. North Rocks Road was originally called the Governors Arms Road because it passed through a large 300 acre farm of that name originally granted to Thomas Horton James on June 18, 1840.	Parramatta History and Heritage. (2016). North Rocks – A Brief History
Gowan Brae Avenue	Renamed part of Old Pennant Hills Road at the request of Northmead residents.	Baulkham Hills Council. (1948, August 11). The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate.
Greens Avenue	Acknowledges Robert Greens and his Greens estate which was part of Rock Farm.
Holmes Avenue	Possibly a reference to the former Holmes Estates Pty Ltd development in the area from the early 1960s.	City of Parramatta Council. (1961). Valuation Books for the Councils of Parramatta, Granville, Dundas, Ermington Rydalmere 1925 - 1965.
Hunterford Road	A reference to Hunterford Estate, located off Pennant Hills Road in Oatlands, which consists of approximately 150 dwellings and was a joint venture between Landcom and St Hillier's.	Wikipedia. (2021). Wincrest homes
Immarna Place	Immarna has appeared in several publications as an Aboriginal language word meaning camp, however no reference was given.	Sutherland Shire Council. (2020). Sutherland Shire origin of street names
Ingleby Street	The street naming theme appears to be based on English places. Ingleby is a parish in England.
Ivanhoe Place	Ivanhoe was a Burnside home officially opened in 1919.	The Hills Shire. (2021). Street Name Origins
Ivy Lane	This street may be named in honour of Ivy May Pearce (later Mrs Hassard) (8 June 1914 – 26 April 1998), one of Australia’s first female pilots.	ABC News. (2020). Queensland pilot Ivy May Pearce made history as an aviation pioneer, now other women are being urged to follow her lead
Kelvin Court	A possible reference to a famous orchard on the Castle Hill-Pennant Hills Road called Kelvin Grove. Many street names have derived their name from the famous river in Scotland the River Kelvin named after the famous physicist William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin.	Pennant Hills. (1899, December 23). The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate.
Kerrie Road	Origin unknown, possibly taken from the Snowy Valleys Ridge Kerries Ridge, as the area maintains a towns and regions of NSW street naming theme.	GNB. (2021). Kerries Ridge
Kissing Point Road	Though the origins of Kissing Point's name is not certain, it is most likely derived from the fact that heavy boats passing the area 'kissed' the shallow bottom at a certain point nearby.	Dictionary of Sydney. (2008). Ryde
Larnook Close	Aboriginal term for habitation.	McAndrew, A. (2002). Carlingford Connexions.
Lincluden Place	Lincluden was a Burnside home officially opened in 1931 and is now part of Alan Walker College of Evangelism.	The Hills Shire. (2021). Street Name Origins
Lind Avenue	Origin unknown.
Lorraine Place	Origin unknown.
Masons Drive	Possible reference to Mason Marsden, child of major subdividers in the area and Marsden family heirs Charles and Elizabeth Marsden.	Parramatta Council. (199-). Suburban names review, part 1.
McRoberts Street	Possibly acknowledging significant pioneer and early land owner James McRoberts.	Casey and Lowe. (2015). PS5&6, Parramatta Square, Parramatta
Newport Place	Newport meaning a new port is a common place name in England and America.
Niblick Crescent	Named in reference to its proximity to the Oatlands Golf Club. The Niblick was an early form of golf club.	Liveabaout. (n.d.). Meet the Niblick, an Early Form of Golf Club
Nioka Street	Nioka is a homestead in south New South Wales near the town of Gundagai . The area maintains a NSW town and place naming theme.	McAndrew, A. (2002). Carlingford Connexions.
Oatlands Crescent	The suburb takes its name from James Bettington's house, Oatlands. Oatlands Crescent most likely takes its name from the suburb.	McClymont, J. (2001). Pictorial History: Parramatta & Dictrict.
Parkham Road	Parkham is a small village in north Devon, England. The street naming theme appears to be based on English places.	McAndrew, A. (2002). Carlingford Connexions.
Peppercorn Lane	Named after the rare Brazilian Peppercorn trees (Schinus terebinthefolius). Pepperina is an alternate word for this plant.	McAndrew, A. (2002). Carlingford Connexions.
Phillip Street	Named in honour of Governor Arthur Phillip, the first governor of NSW.	Parramatta History and Heritage. (2014). Governor Arthur Phillip
Prince Street	Probably named in honour of King George and the Royal Dukes.	Parramatta Council. (199-). Suburban names review, part 1.
Princeton Avenue	The street naming theme appears to be based on American places.
Prindle Street	Origin unknown.
Quentin Place	Acknowledging the Battle of Mont Saint-Quentin which was a battle on the Western Front during World War I. This aligns with the scenes of battles street naming theme in the area.	Wikipedia. (2021). Battle of Mont Saint-Quentin
Regency Court	Possibly deriving its monarchal naming theme from the nearby Kingsdene Estate which all have a monarchal theme.	McAndrew, A. (2002). Carlingford Connexions.
Riverview Place	Descriptive following flower, tree and nature street naming theme in the area.	McAndrew, A. (2002). Carlingford Connexions.
St Aidans Avenue	Most likely named after St Aidan of Lindisfarne.	McAndrew, A. (2002). Carlingford Connexions.
Strathalbyn Drive	Strathalbyn was purchased by Burnside Homes in 1924 and sold in 1992 to Alan Walker School of Evangelism.	The Hills Shire. (2021). Street Name Origins
Stringer Place	Possibly named after the brothers Joseph & William Stringer who bought land on Windsor Road in 1891.	The Hills Shire. (2021). Street Name Origins
The Cascades	Descriptive, following flower, tree and nature street naming theme in the area.	McAndrew, A. (2002). Carlingford Connexions.
The Circle	Possibly descriptive, the name being used for advertising purposes.
The Grove	Referencing the fruit growing history of the area. William Mobbs acquired 30 acres of land on what is now the western side of Marsden Road overlooking the Dundas Valley. Mobbs established an orchard as well as mixed cropping such as wheat on his property which he called ‘Orange Grove’.	Parramatta History and Heritage. (2016). Carlingford – A Brief History
The Mews	Descriptive. Used for advertising purposes. Mews is a British word for a row of carriage houses. The word mews comes from the Royal Mews, royal stables built 500 years. Possible monarchic theme as with neighbouring Kingsdene Estate.	Wikipedia. (2021). Mews
The Terrace	Posssibly descriptive, the name being used for advertising purposes.
Tulong Avenue	Aboriginal term for mountain.	McAndrew, A. (2002). Carlingford Connexions.
Uralba Place	Aboriginal term for a basin.	McAndrew, A. (2002). Carlingford Connexions.
Vista Street	Flowers, trees and nature street naming theme. Vista means view.	McAndrew, A. (2002). Carlingford Connexions.
Volmer Street	Acknowledging the local orchardist Martin Vollmer who had emigrated from Germany and who operated the Mount Tomah Nursery.	McAndrew, A. (2002). Carlingford Connexions.
Warratta Place	Most likely a misspelling or variation of the waratah plant.	McAndrew, A. (2002). Carlingford Connexions.
Wesley Street	Named after William Henry Wesley who was a mining expert who settled in the area and whose descendants were also landowners in the area in the early twentieth century.	McAndrew, A. (2002). Carlingford Connexions.
Wyoming Avenue	Strathalbyn was purchased by Burnside Homes in 1924 and sold in 1992 to Alan Walker School of Evangelism.	The Hills Shire. (2021). Street Name Origins
Wyuna Place	Aboriginal word meaning clear water.	McAndrew, A. (2002). Carlingford Connexions.
York Street	British place street naming theme. Named after York, England.	McAndrew, A. (2002). Carlingford Connexions.

Caroline Finlay, Regional Studies Facilitator and Neera Sahni, Research Services Leader, Parramatta Heritage Centre, City of Parramatta, 2021

Disclaimer: We have tried our best to provide a reason behind how these public roads and streets in Oatlands listed got their names but should there be any discrepancies or if you can help us fill in the gaps, please contact us using our online enquiries form