Why is This Street Named Tanilba Avenue?

Tanilba Avenue was the bush track to Caswells’ Tanilba Estate in 1831. It followed the original track used by Aboriginal people camped in the area. ‘Tenilba’ is the Aboriginal name for ‘place of white flowers’, meaning the flannel flowers which grow in abundance in the area during spring.

Tanilba Avenue is one of the 5 streets out of 24 named to recognise the history of Tanilba Bay. 

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. 

Use of Alliteration for Street Names

This is one of 2 streets that do not have alliteration in their name. The other street without alliteration is Monash Close.

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.