Street Names
Where did our street names come from? Many where named after prominent people from around the state, especially state parliament and senior government figures. Many were also named after local people. I will add the origin of Katanning’s street names as I come across them during my research so come back to this page regularly.
Do you know the origin of any of our street names? If you do, please let me know at admin@lostkatanning.au
| AMABEL STREET | Amabel Street ran from Richardson Street to Aberdeen Street across the railway line. It was named after Amabel Randford, the eldest daughter of the Government Land Agent in Katanning. At 21 years of age she was burned to death in a fire at her home. |
| BURBIDGE WAY | Burbidge Way was named after Archdeacon Burbidge (formerly Rector of St. Andrew’s Church, Katanning) who was prominent in the creation of Kobeelya Ladies College. |
| RICHARDSON STREET | Richard Street was named after Robert Lawson Richardson who took over the business of F & C Piesse following the death of Frederick Henry Piesse. Richardson & Co Ltd became one of the largest retail businesses in Western Australia. |
| PIESSE STREET | Piesse Street was named after Frederick Henry Piesse who is considered the founding father of Katanning. Frederick Piesse won a seat in Western Australia’s first self-governing parliament under Sir John Forrest. He and his brother Charles built the Flour Mill, and the F & C Piesse building next door. |
| ROGERS AVENUE | Rogers Avenue was named after William John Rogers, proprietor of Rogers Central Stores which was the two-storey building located on Clive Street opposite the PO. |
| McCLEOD STREET | McLeod Street was named after George McLeod, a son of convict George McLeod Snr. McLeod built the Katanning Hotel (in two stages) after purchasing the freehold of the original Katanning Hotel, which had burned to the ground. He was a long serving member of the Katanning Road Board and was one of its longest serving Chairmen. |
| THROSSELL STREET | George Throssell was Western Australia’s second Premier, albeit for only three months. He succeeded Sir John Forrest. |
| CULLEN STREET | Cullen Street was named after Joseph Francis Cullen. Joseph Cullen, an Australian journalist and politician, was a Member of Parliament in New South Wales and Western Australia. Settling at Katanning, he was owner and editor of the Great Southern Herald from 1906. On 4 October 1909, he was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Council in a by-election for the South-East Province. He held the seat until his death at Katanning on 31 March 1917. |
| ADAM STREET | William Keith Adam was Katanning’s first resident magistrate having been appointed to the office in 1891. In July, 1888, he married Jane Emily Leake. Mr Adam died of complications from pneumonia and other lung complications aboard R.M.S Rome and was buried at sea between Colombo and Fremantle on 12 December 1900. |
| CHIPPER STREET | Although a resident of Kojonup, and later Wagin, Thomas Chipper was the father of Mary Jane Elizabeth Piesse, wife of Frederick Henry Piesse C.M.G., M.L.A, and Martha Amelia Ellen, wife of Charles Austin Piesse. Both of these men were responsible for the establishment and subsequent growth of Katanning. |
| PROSSER STREET | Alexander Prosser was a farmer at “Happy Valley” Farm, Marracoonda. In 1912, he had served as a member of the Katanning Road Board for over fourteen years. In 1895, he married Anna Christina, daughter of Mr. E. R. Beeck. Mrs Prosser bequeathed the land that is now Prosser Park to the people of Katanning. |
| SYNNOTT AVENUE | The Synnott family were prominent members of the Katanning Community in the middle of last century. Inglis Synnott took over the Great Southern Herald from his father-in-law, Joseph Francis Cullen. After serving in Papua New Guinea during World War Two his son, Francis Inglis (Bill) Synnott, took over from his father as sole owner after his father’s retirement. He eventually retired to Coffs Harbour in New South Wales. |
| WANKE STREET | Charles Wanke, J.P. In 1900, Charles came to Western Australia and purchased a property formerly owned by a Mr. Andrew situated about five miles from Katanning. He was soon elected to the Katanning Road Board and shortly afterwards was appointed to the chair, which he occupied for many years. |
| BEECK STREET | After marrying Maria Hermine Borman. They came across to Western Australia and found the town of Katanning with its own flour mill. In February 1892 Emil’s wife Hermine and eleven of their twelve children and their families sailed into the port of Albany and a special train was needed to bring all the family, their belongings, food, machinery and livestock to settle in the Katanning district. |
| PEMBLE STREET | William Pemble was a commission agent, auctioneer and farmer. Coming to Katanning, he purchased the property on which he resided and a;so opened in business as general commission agent and auctioneer. After five years he joined a prospecting party, and was one of the pioneers of the Mount Margaret district. Mr. Pemble was one of the founders of the Farmers’ Association of the district, and selected the first agricultural showground for the agricultural society, of which he was one of the founders. The Katanning Water Reserve was granted as a direct result of his influence whilst a member of the Road Board. |
| RANFORD ROAD | Henry Samuel Ranford was born on 27 April 1854 in Perth, Western Australia. He married Jane Eliza Jewell on 14 July 1877 at Perth. Jane died in 1896 and Henry went on to marry Emily Clarinda van Zuilecom in 1899 at Enyellup. He was the Father of Amable Mary Ranford, Charles Richard Ranford, Eliza Jane (Ranford) Dartnall, Sarah Agnes Ranford, Henry Andrews Ranford and Bertha Louisa Ranford. He engaged in Government service in the Northwest in 1884. He was Inspector of Lands and Surveys and Acting Surveyor General. By 1897 he was the Government Land Agent at Katanning. He went to London in 1909 as an Emigration Officer. |
| COBHAM STREET | Richard Cobham came to Katanning in the early 1900’s to take charge of the Katanning Lands Office. At that time, it had a staff of about a dozen, including draughtsmen, clerks, etc. Mr. Cobham held the position of Government Land Agent at Katanning for about 25 years, during which time the major settlement of these districts – west to Boyup Brook, east to Pingrup and south to Mt. Barker – took place. On reaching retiring age, he continued to live in Katanning until some years ago when he and his wife went to live in Perth. |
Street Names. Street Names.