Prominent women snubbed in Parramatta light rail stop names

Prominent women and historical figures have been overlooked following the release of names for the stops in the $2.4 billion Parramatta light rail. See the list of names.

Parramatta Lord Mayor Donna Davis has expressed disappointment that none of the 16 stops along the light rail network from Westmead to Carlingford will pay homage to the community’s prominent women of history.

The official names for the $2.4 billion project’s first stage, which stretches 12km and is due to start operating next year, were released after the State Government undertook “extensive community consultation”.

The names are Westmead, Westmead Hospital, the Children’s Hospital, Ngara, Benaud Oval, Fennell Street, Prince Alfred Square, Church Street, Parramatta Square, Robin Thomas, Tramway Avenue, Rosehill Gardens, Yallamundi, Dundas, Telopea and Carlingford.

Transport Minister David Elliott said: “The chosen Parramatta light rail stop names reflect the rich culture of the area, as well as a strong connection to the traditional owners, and sporting and broadcast legend, Richie Benaud.”

After the names were proposed and submitted to the Geographical Names Board in 2020, community feedback started and the board reviewed the name options.

Parramatta councillor Donna Davis is disappointed about the final list of names for light rail stops. Picture: John Appleyard

Elizabeth Macarthur won’t have a stop named after her.

In January last year, Cr Davis called for the unimaginative Fennell Street, Church Street and Robin Thomas to be renamed. She suggested Fennell Street could be titled Elizabeth Raine or Anne Gordon — a Parramatta Female Factory manager and matron respectively.

Instead of naming Robin Thomas after the park the tram will pass at Harris St, Cr Davis wanted to see it named Elizabeth Macarthur, who, along with her husband John pioneered the Australian wool industry in the early 1800s.

But the suggestions were overlooked.

“It must not be forgotten that Parramatta has a significant role to play in women’s history — particularly regarding institutionalisation of women in the North Parramatta heritage precinct which makes this even more disappointing,’’ Cr Davis said.

She welcomed the Aboriginal names such as Ngara at Factory St, North Parramatta, (meaning to hear, think and listen in Darug) and Yallamundi (storytelling) at the Western Sydney University’s Rydalmere campus.

The names emerged as the State Government last week pledged $602.4 million to fund the second stage of the light rail, which will link Parramatta to Sydney Olympic Park.

Infrastructure Minister Rob Stokes said the funding would go towards early works and building the Wentworth Point Bridge, which will connect Wentworth Point to Melrose Park, while detailed planning work for the next stage got under way.

Parramatta state Liberal MP Geoff Lee said the second stage would serve commuters in Camellia, Rydalmere, Ermington, Melrose Park and Wentworth Point.

“It means residents won’t be condemned to a car-dependent future and businesses will be supported by a world-class mass transit system,’’ he said.

An artist’s impression of Wentworth Point Bridge.

But NSW Opposition transport spokeswoman Jo Haylen slammed the funding as a “re-announcement of a re-announcement” and demanded to know when stage two construction would start.

“This is the 14th time in five years that the government has re-announced the project and construction is yet to start, even though a business case for the project has existed since 2018,’’ she said.

“This is a project that the government said it was going to build in 2017, committed to again at the 2019 election, tried to cancel in 2021 and have now re-announced in 2022.

“Wentworth Point residents have been through enough. The community deserves certainty and it deserves a start date.”

An environmental-impact statement for the project will be released for public comment by the end of the year.

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Originally published as Prominent women snubbed in Parramatta light rail stop names