{"id":"geographical-names-act-1991","name":"Geographical Names Act 1991","slug":"geographical-names-act-1991","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"sa","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":55345,"registerId":"sa-geographical-names-act-1991-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Geographical Names Act 1991","content":"South Australia\nGeographical Names Act 1991\nAn Act to regulate the practice of naming geographical places; and for other purposes.\n\nContents\nPart 1—Preliminary\n1\tShort title\n3\tInterpretation\n4\tAct not to apply to certain places\n5\tAct binds Crown\nPart 2—Administration of Act\nDivision 1—The Minister\n6\tFunctions of Minister\n7\tPower of Minister to delegate\nDivision 2—The Surveyor-General\n9\tFunctions of the Surveyor-General\nPart 2A—Geographical names\n11A\tApproval of common name of place as geographical name\n11B\tAssignment of geographical name\n11C\tDiscontinuance of use of geographical name\n12\tCertain places not to be named without Surveyor-General's approval\n13\tOffences\nPart 3—Miscellaneous\n14\tProceedings for offences\n15\tPower of Surveyor-General to recover costs\n16\tThis Act not to affect rights and liabilities\n17\tRegulations\n18\tTransitional provision\nLegislative history\n\nThe Parliament of South Australia enacts as follows:\nPart 1—Preliminary\n1—Short title\nThis Act may be cited as the Geographical Names Act 1991.\n3—Interpretation\nIn this Act, unless the contrary intention appears—\ndual geographical name means a geographical name that is comprised of—\n\t(a)\tan aboriginal name that is the aboriginal name used for a place; and\n\t(b)\tanother name assigned to the place by the Minister;\ngeographical name means a name assigned to, or approved as the name of, a place under this Act, and includes a dual geographical name;\nplace means any area, region, locality, city, suburb, town, township, or settlement, or any geographical or topographical feature, and includes any railway station, hospital, school and any other place or building that is, or is likely to be, of public or historical interest;\nrecord means—\n\t(a)\ta documentary record; or\n\t(b)\ta plan; or\n\t(c)\ta record made by an electronic, electro-magnetic, photographic or optical process; or\n\t(d)\tany other kind of record;\nrecorded name means the name by which a place is designated on a map, plan or other record deposited in an administrative unit of the Public Service.\n4—Act not to apply to certain places\nThis Act does not apply to or in relation to the name of—\n\t(a)\ta municipality, district or ward constituted or established under the Local Government Act 1934; or\n\t(b)\tan electoral district, division or subdivision established under the Constitution Act 1934 or the Electoral Act 1985; or\n\t(c)\ta road or street; or\n\t(d)\ta place prescribed by regulation.\n5—Act binds Crown\nThis Act binds the Crown.\nPart 2—Administration of Act\nDivision 1—The Minister\n6—Functions of Minister\n\t(1)\tThe Minister has the following functions under this Act:\n\t(a)\tto assign names to places;\n\t(b)\tto approve a recorded name of a place as its geographical name;\n\t(c)\tto alter a geographical name;\n\t(d)\tto determine whether the use of a recorded name or a geographical name is to be discontinued;\n\t(e)\tsuch other functions as are assigned to the Minister by this Act.\n\t(2)\tThe Minister must, in carrying out functions under this Act, take into account the advice of the Surveyor-General.\n7—Power of Minister to delegate\n\t(1)\tThe Minister may delegate any of the Minister's powers or functions under this Act—\n\t(a)\tto the Surveyor-General; or\n\t(c)\tto the person for the time being occupying a particular office or position.\n\t(2)\tA delegation under this section—\n\t(a)\tmust be by instrument in writing; and\n\t(b)\tmay be absolute or conditional; and\n\t(c)\tdoes not derogate from the power of the Minister to act in any matter; and\n\t(d)\tis revocable at will by the Minister.\nDivision 2—The Surveyor-General\n9—Functions of the Surveyor-General\n\t(1)\tThe Surveyor-General has the following functions under this Act:\n\t(a)\tto advise the Minister with respect to any matter relating to the administration or operation of this Act; and\n\t(b)\tto keep such records as the Surveyor-General may determine are necessary in relation to the administration or operation of this Act; and\n\t(c)\tto investigate and determine—\n\t(i)\tthe form, spelling, meaning, origin or history of the name of a place; and\n\t(ii)\tthe application and usage of the name of a place; and\n\t(d)\tto publish from time to time a gazetteer containing geographical names and any other information as may be determined by the Surveyor-General.\nPart 2A—Geographical names\n11A—Approval of common name of place as geographical name\nIf the Minister is satisfied—\n\t(a)\tthat the recorded name of a place is the name that is by common usage assigned to that place; and\n\t(b)\tthat there are no other names (including any variants of the recorded name) that are by common usage assigned to that place,\nthe Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, declare that from the date specified in the notice the recorded name of the place is approved as its geographical name.\n11B—Assignment of geographical name\n\t(1)\tThe Minister may, by notice in the Gazette—\n\t(a)\tassign a geographical name to a place described in the notice; or\n\t(b)\talter the boundaries of a place in respect of which a geographical name has been assigned or approved under this Act,\nto have effect from the date specified in the notice.\n\t(2)\tIf the Minister proposes—\n\t(a)\tto assign a geographical name to a place; or\n\t(b)\tto alter the boundaries of a place that has a geographical name,\nthe Minister—\n\t(c)\tmust give written notice of the details of the proposal to each local council likely to be interested in the proposal, inviting them to make written submissions to the Minister in relation to the proposal within one month of receipt of the notice; and\n\t(d)\tmust cause a notice to be published that—\n\t(i)\tgives details of the proposal; and\n\t(ii)\tinvites interested persons to make written submissions to the Minister in relation to the proposal within one month of the publication of the notice.\n\t(2a)\tA notice under subsection (2) must be published in the Gazette and—\n\t(a)\ton a website determined by the Minister; or\n\t(b)\tin a newspaper circulating generally in the neighbourhood of the relevant place.\n\t(3)\tThe Minister must take into account any submissions received in accordance with an invitation under subsection (2).\n\t(4)\tThe Minister need not comply with subsection (2) in the case of a proposed boundary alteration if satisfied—\n\t(a)\tthat the alteration is minor and non-contentious; and\n\t(b)\tthat the views of interested persons have been adequately canvassed by some other means.\n\t(5)\tIf a division or amalgamation of allotments of land does not result in a change of address of any allotment involved in the division or amalgamation, the Minister need not comply with subsection (2) in altering the boundary of a place in respect of which a geographical name has been assigned or approved under this Act so as to align it with a boundary of an allotment of land resulting from the division or amalgamation.\n\t(6)\tSubsection (5) applies in relation to a division or amalgamation of allotments of land occurring before or after the commencement of that subsection.\n11C—Discontinuance of use of geographical name\nThe Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, declare that from the date specified in the notice the use of the geographical name of a place is discontinued.\n12—Certain places not to be named without Surveyor-General's approval\n\t(1)\tOn application, the Surveyor-General may, by instrument in writing, approve a name to be given to—\n\t(a)\ta hospital, school, college or educational institution that is established after the commencement of this Act;\n\t(b)\tan area of land that is divided for residential, industrial or commercial purposes after the commencement of this Act;\n\t(c)\tany other place or type of place that the Surveyor-General specifies by notice published in the Gazette.\n\t(2)\tIn this section—\ndivided means subdivided and re-subdivided and includes the alteration of the boundaries of allotments of land.\n13—Offences\n\t(1)\tWhere—\n\t(a)\ta geographical name has been assigned or approved in respect of a place under this Act; or\n\t(b)\ta name for a place has been approved pursuant to an application made under section 12,\na person must not produce or cause to be produced, or display or cause to be displayed, a document or advertisement in which another name is represented, specifically or by implication, as being the name of that place unless the geographical name or the approved name is also prominently represented.\nMaximum penalty: $5 000.\n\t(2)\tIn this section—\ndocument includes a book, brochure, guide, manual, map, newspaper, notice or billboard.\nPart 3—Miscellaneous\n14—Proceedings for offences\n\t(2)\tProceedings for an offence against this Act must not be commenced without the consent of the Minister.\n\t(3)\tIn any proceedings for an offence against this Act, a certificate apparently signed by the Minister certifying his or her consent to the proceedings is, in the absence of proof to the contrary, to be accepted as proof of the Minister's consent.\n15—Power of Surveyor-General to recover costs\n\t(1)\tWhere a person applies to the Surveyor-General for—\n\t(a)\tthe assignment of a geographical name to a place; or\n\t(b)\tthe alteration of the boundaries of a place in respect of which a geographical name has been assigned or approved under this Act; or\n\t(c)\tan approval under section 12,\nthe Surveyor-General may recover from the applicant any costs or expenses reasonably incurred by the Surveyor-General in dealing with the application.\n\t(2)\tIn any proceedings under this section, a certificate apparently signed by the Surveyor-General certifying the costs and expenses incurred by the Surveyor-General in dealing with an application under subsection (1) is, in the absence of proof to the contrary, to be accepted as proof of the costs and expenses.\n16—This Act not to affect rights and liabilities\n\t(1)\tNothing in this Act and nothing done pursuant to this Act affects the operation or validity of any instrument or agreement that creates or imposes any rights or liabilities.\n\t(2)\tNothing in this Act imposes any obligation on or otherwise affects or applies to the Registrar-General.\n17—Regulations\n\t(1)\tThe Governor may make such regulations as are contemplated by this Act, or as are necessary or expedient for the purposes of this Act.\n\t(2)\tIn particular, the regulations may—\n\t(a)\tprescribe and provide for the payment of any fees to be paid by any person under this Act; and\n\t(b)\tprescribe a penalty not exceeding $2 500 for contravention of the regulations.\n18—Transitional provision\n\t(2)\tA geographical name in force under the Geographical Names Act 1969 immediately before the commencement of this Act, is to be taken to be a geographical name assigned to a place under this Act.\nLegislative history\nNotes\n\t•\tPlease note—References in the legislation to other legislation or instruments or to titles of bodies or offices are not automatically updated as part of the program for the revision and publication of legislation and therefore may be obsolete.\n\t•\tEarlier versions of this Act (historical versions) are listed at the end of the legislative history.\n\t•\tFor further information relating to the Act and subordinate legislation made under the Act see the Index of South Australian Statutes or www.legislation.sa.gov.au.\nLegislation repealed by principal Act\nThe Geographical Names Act 1991 repealed the following:\nGeographical Names Act 1969\nPrincipal Act and amendments\nNew entries appear in bold.\nYear\nNo\nTitle\nAssent\nCommencement\n1991\n39\n Geographical Names Act 1991\n31.10.1991\n9.1.1992 (Gazette 9.1.1992 p2)\n1999\n50\n Geographical Names (Assignment of Names) Amendment Act 1999\n12.8.1999\n12.8.1999\n2006\n24\n Geographical Names (Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 2006\n5.10.2006\n23.11.2006 (Gazette 23.11.2006 p4078)\n2009\n84\n Statutes Amendment (Public Sector Consequential Amendments) Act 2009\n10.12.2009\nPt 70 (s 167)—1.2.2010 (Gazette 28.1.2010 p320)\n2019\n25\nStatutes Amendment and Repeal (Simplify) Act 2019\n3.10.2019\nPt 20 (s 43)—3.10.2019: s 2(1)\nProvisions amended\nNew entries appear in bold.\nEntries that relate to provisions that have been deleted appear in italics.\nProvision\nHow varied\nCommencement\nLong title\namended under Legislation Revision and Publication Act 2002\n\nPt 1\n\n\ns 2\nomitted under Legislation Revision and Publication Act 2002\n\ns 3\n\n\nthe Committee\ndeleted by 24/2006 s 4\n23.11.2006\ndual geographical name\ninserted by 50/1999 s 2\n12.8.1999\ngeographical name\nsubstituted by 50/1999 s 2\n12.8.1999\nrecorded name\namended by 84/2009 s 167\n1.2.2010\nPt 2\n\n\nPt 2 Div 1\n\n\ns 6\n\n\ns 6(1)\ns 6 redesignated as s 6(1) by 50/1999 s 3\n12.8.1999\ns 6(2)\ninserted by 50/1999 s 3\n12.8.1999\n\namended by 24/2006 s 5\n23.11.2006\ns 7\n\n\ns 7(1)\n(b) deleted by 24/2006 s 6\n23.11.2006\ns 8\ndeleted by 50/1999 s 4\n12.8.1999\nPt 2 Div 3\ndeleted by 24/2006 s 7\n23.11.2006\nPt 2A\ninserted by 50/1999 s 5\n12.8.1999\nheading preceding s 13\ndeleted by 50/1999 s 6\n12.8.1999\ns 11B\n\n\ns 11B(2)\namended by 25/2019 s 43(1)\n3.10.2019\ns 11B(2a)\ninserted by 25/2019 s 43(2)\n3.10.2019\ns 11B(5) and (6)\ninserted by 24/2006 s 8\n23.11.2006\ns 13\n\n\ns 13(1)\namended by 50/1999 s 7\n12.8.1999\nPt 3\nheading inserted by 50/1999 s 8\n12.8.1999\ns 14\n\n\ns 14(1)\ndeleted by 50/1999 s 9\n12.8.1999\ns 15\n\n\ns 15(1)\namended by 50/1999 s 10\n12.8.1999\ns 17\n\n\ns 17(2)\namended by 50/1999 s 11\n12.8.1999\ns 18\n\n\ns 18(1)\nomitted under Legislation Revision and Publication Act 2002\n\nHistorical versions\nReprint No 1—12.8.1999\n\n23.11.2006\n\n1.2.2010\n\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains focused on its original purpose of regulating the naming of geographical places. While amendments have added consultation requirements (website publication in 2019), dual naming provisions (1999), and streamlined administrative processes (removal of the Geographical Names Committee in 2006), these changes have refined rather than expanded the core scope. The Act still does not apply to municipalities, electoral districts, or roads, maintaining its original boundaries."},"complexity_factors":["Short statute with only 18 sections (some omitted or repealed)","Minimal defined terms — only 6 key definitions in section 3 (dual geographical name, geographical name, place, record, recorded name, plus 'divided' in section 12)","Straightforward administrative structure with clear roles for Minister and Surveyor-General","Simple conditional logic in section 11B with nested subsections for consultation requirements, but these are clearly structured","Limited cross-referencing — only references to Local Government Act 1934, Constitution Act 1934, Electoral Act 1985, and Geographical Names Act 1969","No complex exceptions to exceptions — section 11B(4) and (5) provide straightforward exemptions from consultation","Single offence provision (section 13) with clear elements and penalty","Legislative history shows incremental amendments (1999, 2006, 2009, 2019) but core structure remains simple"],"plain_english_summary":"This law sets up a system for officially naming places in South Australia. It gives the Minister (a government minister) the power to assign names to geographical areas, approve names already in common use, change existing names, or stop using names that are no longer appropriate. The Surveyor-General (a senior government official) advises the Minister and keeps records of all official place names.\n\n**Key things this law does:**\n\n- **Creates official geographical names** — The Minister can assign names to cities, suburbs, towns, geographical features, and even public buildings like hospitals and schools. These names are published in the Government Gazette (an official public record).\n\n- **Protects Aboriginal names** — The law recognises \"dual geographical names\" — where an Aboriginal name is used together with another name assigned by the Minister.\n\n- **Requires public consultation** — Before assigning a new name or changing boundaries, the Minister must notify local councils and publish notices inviting public submissions. There are exceptions for minor, non-contentious changes.\n\n- **Controls naming of new developments** — Anyone wanting to name a new hospital, school, or residential subdivision must get approval from the Surveyor-General first.\n\n- **Prevents misleading use of names** — It's an offence (with a fine up to $5,000) to use a different name for a place in documents or advertisements without also showing the official geographical name.\n\n- **Excludes certain names** — The law doesn't apply to local government areas (councils), electoral districts, or roads/streets — these are covered by other laws.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Property developers naming new suburbs or estates\n- Government agencies and local councils\n- Anyone publishing maps, brochures, or advertisements using place names\n- The general public, who can have a say in naming proposals\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis ensures place names are consistent, respectful of Aboriginal heritage, and properly recorded for emergency services, mail delivery, and property ownership. It prevents confusion from multiple unofficial names for the same location."},"summary":{"complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Scope cannot be assessed as the legislative text was not available. The page returned an error rather than the content of the Geographical Names Act 1991 (SA)."},"complexity_factors":["No legislative text was retrievable — the source URL returned a 404 Page Not Found error","Analysis is impossible without the actual content of the Act","Complexity score of 1 reflects the absence of content to assess, not the simplicity of the Act itself"],"plain_english_summary":"The Geographical Names Act 1991 (SA) sets up a formal system for assigning, changing and recording official names for places, localities, roads and geographic features across South Australia. By establishing an authority to standardise place names, it affects addresses, property identification and emergency services’ ability to locate people and places."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Yes. The Act's scope has been altered by later amendments: dual geographical names and a redefined ‘‘geographical name’’ were inserted in 1999 (see Geographical Names (Assignment of Names) Amendment Act 1999 — inserted dual geographical name and Part 2A (50/1999 s2, s5)); 2006 amendments added minor-boundary exceptions and other changes (24/2006 s5, s8); and 2019 changes updated consultation/publication requirements for s11B (Statutes Amendment and Repeal (Simplify) Act 2019 Pt 20 s43). The principal Act repealed the 1969 Act on commencement."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple decision-makers with overlapping roles and delegation (Minister: s6–7; Surveyor‑General: s9) increases discretionary choices.","Procedural layers for consultation and publication (s11B(2), s11B(2a), s11B(3)–(6)) create administrative steps and timing constraints.","Offence, penalty and prosecution-consent rules (s13; s14) attach criminal exposure to publishers and require ministerial gatekeeping.","Cost-recovery power for applications (s15) imposes potential fees on applicants and record-keeping obligations on the Surveyor‑General.","Broad definitions and carved-out exclusions (definition of place and geographical name in s3; exclusions in s4) broaden reach while creating exceptions to apply.","Requirement to use Gazette and specified publication media (s11A, s11B(2a)) ties legal effect to formal notices.","Statutory amendments over time (see legislative history) add layers (dual names, Part 2A, consultation and minor-boundary exceptions) that complicate interpretation."],"plain_english_summary":"This Act gives the Minister power to assign, approve, alter and discontinue official geographical names and requires the Surveyor‑General to advise, research name origins and keep records. It prescribes public-notice and consultation rules for naming and boundary changes, allows the Surveyor‑General to recover costs from applicants (s15), creates an offence for publishing an alternative name without also prominently showing the official name (s13, penalty $5,000) and requires the Minister's consent before prosecutions (s14). It affects governments, local councils, applicants and publishers."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/geographical-names-act-1991","history":"/api/acts/geographical-names-act-1991/history","analysis":"/api/acts/geographical-names-act-1991/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/geographical-names-act-1991/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/geographical-names-act-1991/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/geographical-names-act-1991/documents"}}