First came Strathnairn, and now Macnamara is taking shape as Ginninderry’s second suburb, a place where every street has a story to tell. 

More than just signposts and directions, Macnamara’s streets honour remarkable Australians whose contributions to science, community and culture have left a lasting mark.

As the suburb fills with life, these names carry with them a spirit of innovation, resilience and discovery, the same qualities that will shape the Ginninderry community for generations to come.

Celebrating pioneers in science and innovation

Macnamara’s streets are a living tribute to people who pushed the boundaries of knowledge. Bolza Street, for instance, honours Nora Bolza, a pioneering wood scientist whose research with CSIRO helped shape the way we understand timbers from across the globe. 

Payne Scott Way recognises Ruby Payne-Scott, a trailblazing radiophysicist and women’s rights advocate whose radar research during the Second World War and groundbreaking studies of solar radio waves helped pave the way for modern astronomy.

Kaneff Street celebrates Stephen Kaneff, a solar scientist whose vision and leadership helped create Australia’s first solar thermal power station – a fitting legacy for Macnamara, the first 7-star energy-rated suburb in the ACT.

Honouring Aboriginal knowledge and leadership

Some streets pay tribute to Aboriginal Australians who shaped the scientific and cultural landscape. Jack Cusack View commemorates botanist Jack Cusack, a Gurindji/Walpiri man whose decades of work with CSIRO left a profound legacy in understanding northern Australia’s plant life. 

Meanwhile, Eric Willmot Way acknowledges Eric Willmot AM, a scholar, inventor, engineer and celebrated educator whose leadership and innovation continue to inspire.

Recognising the power of persistence

Macnamara’s streets also carry the names of individuals whose determination changed lives. Kailis Close honours Patricia Kailis, a neurologist, geneticist and businesswoman whose research into motor neurone disease and genetic testing was life-changing for many families. Sue Newton Crescent pays tribute to Dr Sue Newton, a molecular biologist who worked on innovative vaccines and left an enduring legacy in animal health science.

Keeping history alive

Some names even connect us to the infrastructure and ingenuity that shaped Australia’s past. Oppenheimer Street references the Oppenheimer pole, a galvanised iron telegraph pole used in the construction of the Overland Telegraph Line that first linked Australia to the rest of the world in 1872. Without innovations like these, communication and community across the country would have looked very different.

A suburb with a story in every step

From botanists and geologists to inventors, educators and advocates, the people behind Macnamara’s street names reflect the values of curiosity, resilience and community. Just as these pioneers left their mark on Australia, the residents of Ginninderry will continue to shape the future of this vibrant, sustainable community.

So next time you wander down Sherrard Crescent, Ilma Stone Way, or Wapshere Street, take a moment to reflect on the remarkable lives these names represent – and the stories that now form part of Ginninderry’s growing history.

Learn more about Ginninderry and discover how you can be part of a community where every street has a story at ginninderry.com