Would you like to name a street?

STREET WISE: Wairarapa archivist Gareth Winter studies his own book on the history of Carterton's street names.

Carterton District Council is responsible for naming and renaming roads within its boundaries - usually named to reflect the identity and history of the area.

Now the council is calling for public submissions for the possible renaming of streets and for future street names.

Wairarapa archivist Gareth Winter described Carterton as having an "eclectic mix of street names".

The streets that make up Carterton are a mix of streets that were named after prominent early settlers or social radicals in Carterton; streets that lead to a place - Belvedere Road for example - and streets that reflect the Crown.

Mr Winter said if he were to name a new street he might fill the missing link in streets named after Carterton mayors.

Carterton mayors have had streets named after them up until Barry Keys, Georgina Beyer and Gary McPhee - Mr Winter sees no need to stop the tradition.

He also advocates for binomial (two-name) street names so that future generations have the information to interpret the history of an area more accurately.

According to Mr Winter, Holloway Street, which now hosts the council building and the events centre, was originally named Library Street.

It was renamed after Thomas Holloway, a philanthropist and developer of patented medicines, who gave all his money away to aid fallen women.

Costley Street was named after Edward Costley - another philanthropist in Carterton who started a museum.

Plimsoll Street was named after Samuel Plimsoll who came up with the safety line painted on ships indicating the level to load to, and Garrison Street after William Garrison, an American anti-slavery campaigner.

Carrington Park was named when the Booth and Buchanan families donated the land for public use - the Booths had connections to Lord Carrington.

The first of two major street renaming sessions was done in 1880.

Renaming in 1980 included McPartland's Line becoming Portland Road, Gorman's Line became Lincoln Road, Arnold's Line (Dalefield Road), Haggerty's Line (Hill Street), Carter's Line (Moreton Road), Bambry's Line (Brooklyn Road), Parker's Line (Park Road), Walker's Line (Richmond Road), the eastern back line became Rutland Road.

The council wants to make sure they name future streets accurately.

To have a chance at naming a street in Carterton get a form from the council offices or email your name and road suggestion to info@cdc.govt.nz.