Principles for the consistent use of place names

The Permanent Committee on Place Names (PCPN) is a permanent committee of the Intergovernmental Committee on Surveying and Mapping (ICSM) with membership primarily drawn from principal naming authorities of jurisdictions in Australia and New Zealand.

The PCPN has developed and published principles for the consistent use of place names, which includes:

• principles for the use of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander place names
• dual naming depiction principles.

The principles set out a framework for the delivery of consistent place naming practices and cover the choice, form and application of place names in Australia.

Read the principles on the Intergovernmental Committee on Surveying and Mapping website.

The Place Names Committee has responsibility under the Place Names Act 1967 for making recommendations about the names of places and it refers to the document when considering whether or not a requested place name is appropriate for the Northern Territory context.

Find out more about how places are named.