Last week we looked at streets in Toorak and the origins of their names, who those streets are named after.
This week we take a look at the names of the streets in the central Suva, our Capital City.
The information is sourced from the book “Suva: A History Guide” by Albert J. Shütz with pictures sourced from Cyclopedia of Fiji, which was reprinted by the Fiji Museum. Both books are kept at the National Archives
According to Mr Shutz between central Suva, wharf area, Toorak, Extension St and Domain, there are 118 streets.
The names of these fall into a number of classes:
* British royalty;
* British parliamentarians, especially those in the colonial office;
* Colonial administrators;
* Early Suva settlers, town planners and land developers;
* British military figures;
* Suva officials and councillors;
* Fijian and other Pacific historical figures; and
* Fijian place names
Central St
Named after Central Building which was damaged by the hurricane of 1952 and later replaced by the CML Building.
Land for both Central Building and Central St was reclaimed by WH Johnson a Canadian born former soldier, pressman, cigar maker, who was commonly known as Tavua because of the successful farming and trading enterprise he conducted there. From Tavua he moved to Suva and in 1908 he became a member of the Suva Town Board — which was later converted into a town council in 1910.
Butt St
John Marten Butt, manager of the first branch of the Bank of New Zealand opened at Levuka on July 17, 1876. A warden (equivalent of mayor) of Levuka and chairman of the school board. Concerts and dances were held in the Mechanics Institute at Butt St.
Cakobau Rd
Born as Ratu Seru, son of Ratu Tanoa, he earned the name Cakobau (destruction to Bau) for his part in that action. He became the vunivalu and chief of Bau and later self-appointed as Tui Viti — King of Fiji. When Reverend David Cargil saw him in 1839, he wrote: “Seru is not by any means prepossessing in his appearance and manners. He will probably be his father’s successor in the government of Bau.”
The Suva Times printed his obituary on February 3, 1883.
Carnavon St
Henry Howard Molyneux Herbert, fourth Earl of Carnavon. He was Secretary of State for the Colonies under Disraeli 1866-1878. He held office when the question of Fiji’s cession to Great Britain came to a head.
Carnavon was especially concerned that Great Britain controlled black birding of the labour force.
Ellery St
Robert Lewis Ellery (1827-1908). Ellery was an astronomer and physician who practised near Melbourne. He undertook a geodetic survey of Victoria and was one of the founders of the Royal Society of Victoria. Ellery also left his name in Mount Ellery, in eastern Victoria.
Ellery St was originally at the edge of Nubukalou Creek, and a natural place for a garbage dump. With the surrounding area referred to in the iTaukei language as Na i Benubenu, it aroused the comment of The Fiji Times in 1914: “The whole of Ellery St is a disgrace to a disgraceful town.”
Cumming St
Constance Frederica Gordon-Cumming noted travel writer, who visited Fiji in 1875, travelling on the dame ship with, among others, her uncle Sir Arthur and Lady Gordon, their children Captain Knollys and Mr Le Hunte — all of whom left their names on the map of Suva.
Foster Rd
William Edward Foster (1818-86), an English Liberal statesman and Cabinet-rank parliamentarian. Chief Secretary under Gladstone. In 1883, the Suva Times spoke of him as the oracle through who ex-governor Gordon spoke.
Forster was Parliamentary Secretary of State for the Colonies in 1865. However, one source suggests that the street is name for the Forster who was an interpreter and clerk brought out to deal with Indian labourers, and who later because Agent General of Immigration.
Residents of Town House probably remember Forster St best for the forty three steps that lead up from Murray St.
Gladstone Rd
William Ewart Gladstone (1809-1898), Prime Minister of Great Britain 1868-74, 1880-85, 1886-94. Gladstone was in office when the report of Great Britain’s potential annexation of Fiji was being written.
However he was removed from by a general election with Disraeli as the new PM. Gladstone would no doubt have opposed the addition of a new colony, since he and others in the Liberal administration were more concerned with reforms at home than with expanding the empire.
Goodenough St
Commodore James Graham Goodenough (1830-75) was commander of Her Majesty’s ships at the Australian station. Along with EL Layard, he was appointed by Gladstone to serve as a commissioner to investigate the advisability of Great Britain’s annexation of Fiji.
He was wounded by an arrow in the Santa Cruz group and died of tetanus eight days later.
Gordon St
Sir Arthur Hamilton Gordon (1829-1912) arrived in Fiji on June 24, 1875 to serve as the first permanent governor from 1875-1880.
Grahame Rd
George Frier Grahame (188-1970). Suva town councillor for 11 years (1915-25) and mayor for two terms (1922-25 and 1932-33). Founded the legal firm of Grahame & Co. He was also the first president of the Suva Bowling Club.
Hercules St
Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson (1824-1897), first Baron Rosmead.
Sir Hercules was the governor of New South Wales, who established a provisional government in Fiji from the date of the Cession to Gordon’s appointment. Later, he was governor of New Zealand 1879-180 and then high commissioner to South Africa.
Kimberley St
John Wodehouse Kimberley (1826-1902), first Earl Kimberley was Secretary of State for the Colonies 1870-1882
Macgregor Rd
Dr William Macgregor (1846-1905). He was Acting Governor in 1885 and chief medical officer during the early years of the colony.
He had served with Governor Gordon before coming to Fiji. Later, he was Governor of Lagos and perhaps best known as the first administrator of British New Guinea (1888-1898).
Where Gordon St ends and Macgregor Rd begins there was once, as late as 1930, a small called Lefevre Pl, named after various members of the family who corresponded with Sir Arthur and Lady Gordon.
Macarthur St
At least three of note. The father John Macarthur (1776-1834), “the father of New South Wales”, he was a member of the first Legislative Council 1825-31 and created the wool and wine trade for NSW. The sons: Sir William (1800-82), member of the NSW Legislative Council, Sir Edward (1789-1872 was a Lieutenant General and Acting Governor of Victoria.
Marks St
Gabriel Jacob Marks (1870-1914), first mayor of Suva. Marks and his wife were drowned in the St Lawrence River when the SS Empress of Ireland sank on May 23, 1914. The deaths were announced in The Fiji Times on June 2, and flags from Government House and foreign consulates were flown at half-mast.
Murray St
Jas Murray, manager of the Fiji Sugar Company at Navua.
Gorrie St
Sir John Corrie (1829-1892), second Chief Justice of the colony. Appointed in 1876,
Gorrie moved to Suva a full eight months before the rest of the government followed, and the first issue of The Fiji Times reported his arrival with enthusiasm.
He was later persuaded and accepted another post in 1882 to be Chief Justice of Trinidad, and in 1892 was suspended for his efforts of administering justice.
Pratt St
Lieutenant Colonel FE Pratt, Royal Engineers appointed as surveyor general and director of works.
As head of the Royal Engineers, Lt-Col Pratt and his surveyors made the original survey of the town. Where the Triangle is now, there was a small lagoon led by a creek coming down Pratt St.
Raojibhai Patel St
Raojibhai Patel a Suva City councillor became associated with this street in business soon after he arrived in Fiji from India. The street was originally Marks Lane, but commercial growth carried it beyond the status of a lane and the name was changed in 1976.
Renwick Rd
Samuel Renwick, who with his partner Thomson, held much of the land south of Nubukalou Creek as far as Cakobau Rd.
Robertson Rd
Robert Robertson a member of the Suva Town and School Board and occasional correspondent with the Suva Times on such civic matters as increasing the number of footpaths in town
Rodwell Rd
Sir Cecil Hunter Rodwell, 11th governor 1918-1924.
Until the Kings Wharf area was reclaimed and the wharf built, this was called Depot Rd because it led to a public works depot.
Scott St
Sir Henry Milne Scott (1876-1951). Major of Suva from 1916 to 1922 during which time the city’s electricity undertaking was established.
Sir Henry practised law in the firm of Wm. Scott & Company, which was founded by his father in 1876. Sir Henry’s son, Sir Maurice Scott continued in the family’s law practise until his death in 1976.
So Scott St can be regarded as commemorating the Scott family’s association with Fiji for well over 100 years.
Stinson Parade
Charles Alexander Stinson was born at Levuka and elected to the Suva City Council in 1952 after service in Fiji principal naval vessel HMS Viti during World War II. He was mayor during reclamation of the current site of the New Town hall.
Mr Stinson went on to become minister for communication, works and tourism in 1967 and minister for finance in 1972.
Terry Walk
Named for the Terry family which owned most of the land on the south side of Nubukalou Creek.
Thomson St
William Ker Thomson, Melbourne merchant who with Samuel Renwick held much of the land south of Nubukalou Creek to Cakobau Rd.
Thurston St
Sir John Bates Thurston (1836-1897). Consul for Fiji 1869, colonial secretary of the new colony lieutenant governor, 1886 and governor 1888-1897.
Victoria Parade
It is fitting that Suva’s main street was named for the reigning monarch at the time of Cession, the head of the empire.
Originally the street was at the water’s edge but reclamation along its length has made it an interior street.
