Meaning behind street names
Building a new home means knowing every intimate detail of the lot, the home, the orientation and the area. But for many, the meaning behind their street name can remain an unpondered mystery.
All streets in Catherine Park Estate have been named after either previous landowners in the area now known as Catherine Park Estate or eminent Australians (Companions of the Order of Australia). As residents begin moving into St James, we present some of the namesakes behind the addresses.
STREET NAME: O’KEEFE DRIVE Barry O’Keefe,
AM, QC, (20 May 1933 – 24 April 2014) was an Australian judge and lawyer who served his working life as a justice of the Supreme Court of NSW, Commissioner of ICAC and the Mayor of Mosman. O’Keefe dedicated a large part of his life to the prevention of educational corruption, developing a model accepted by Australian states which extended beyond the countries bounds. He was a long-term friend and advisor to Lady Mary Fairfax, and as Chairman of the Development Board of Harrington Estates, was pivotal in the development of Harrington Park and Harrington Grove. O’Keefe was also a committed and influential member of Australia’s Catholic Community.nswbar.asn.au
STREET NAME: MYER WAY Kenneth Baillieu Myer,
AC, DSC (1 March 1921 – 30 July 1992) was an American-born Australian patron of the Arts, devoting his career to the humanities and sciences, business, and philanthropy. He was also a member of the Australia retailing “Myer” family, and chairman of the Australia Broadcasting Corporation. Throughout his time, Myer made significant contributions to the development of institutions such as the National Library of Australia, the Howard Florey Laboratories of Experimental Physiology and Medicine, and the Victorian Arts Centre. Myer’s positive outlook on society, and his curiosity and love of science created a lifetime of impact on education in Australia. science.org.au
STREET NAME: OLLEY AVENUE Margaret Hannah Olley,
AC (24 June 1923 – 26 July 2011) was an Australian painter and held over 90 solo exhibitions during her lifetime. Olley was awarded Life Governor of the AGNSW and a Twentieth Century European Gallery was named in her honour. She was also appointed an Officer Order of Australia, and Companion of the Order of Australia. Olley dedicated her life to art and in her later years donated 130 of her works valued over $7 million to the Art Gallery of NSW. artgallery.tweed.nsw.gov.au
STREET NAME: HOLLOWS DRIVE Frederick Hollows,
AC (9 April 1929 – 10 February 1993) was a New Zealand born Australian ophthalmologist whose love of science drove him to restore eyesight for more than a million people across the world. Hollows dedicated his life to fighting for better access to eye health and living conditions for Indigenous Australians, and people of war torn countries. When diagnosed with cancer, Hollows continued training as many eye specialists as possible and established the Hollows Foundation to ensure his work would continue on, as did his legacy. hollows.org.au
STREET NAME: KIRBY WAY Sir Richard Kirby,
AC (22 September 1904 – 25 October 2001) was a long-serving president of the Australian Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Commission (1956-1973), having first been appointed to the Commission in 1947. Kirby also devoted a large part of his career as a member of the Australian War Crimes Commission. In 1973, he retired from this post due to ill health. Kirby filled his retirement with continuing associations with industrial relations societies. He served as chairman of the Advertising Standards Council from 1973 to 1985. He also served on the Council of the University of Wollongong which conferred on him the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters. He was in every way an active public citizen. fwc.gov.au
STREET NAME: PHILLIPS AVENUE John Phillips,
AC, QC (18 October 1933 – 7 August 2009) was an Australian judge and author. Phillips eventful career saw the solution of many murder trails (including the defence for Michael and Lindy Chamberlain during the 1980s) which led to the appointment of Director of the National Crime Authority. Phillips worked for a life of righteousness and ended his career as the tenth Supreme Court of Victoria’s Chief of Justice. folleys.com.au
