Why is This Street Named Caswell Crescent?

Caswell Crescent is named for Commander (Retired Royal Navy), formerly Lieutenant William Caswell, the first settler to Tanilba Bay, who received his original land grant in 1831 (Tenilba), for his distinctive service rendered to the Royal Navy.

Henry Halloran, a surveyor and real estate agent, bought the land in 1920 and planned a subdivision that would repeat elements of Walter Burley Griffin’s plan for Canberra based on a central Avenue of the Allies. He wanted to recognise and celebrate the history of the local area and therefore named a number of the streets after the original grantees of the land. Lt William Caswell was one of the original grantees of the land by the government.

Caswell Crescent is one of the 5 streets out of 24 named to recognise the local history of the area. 

Use of Alliteration for Street Names

A feature of Henry Halloran’s developments and subdivisions was that street names were chosen to capture attention through their alliteration (the repetition of the beginning consonant sounds of nearby words), like Pomona Place, Rigney Road and Tilligerry Track.

View the slide presentation to learn more about William Caswell

Click on the row above at the bottom of the slide to view the 6 slides