ANDREW Barr has expressed his delight in announcing a new suburb in Molonglo will be named after Gough Whitlam.

“I have joined the Planning Minister in support of the ACT Place Names Committee’s unanimous agreement to name the first land release in Molonglo Valley Stage 3 ‘Whitlam’ after Australia’s 21st Prime Minister,” Andrew said.

“The first Whitlam residents are likely to move in by the end of the decade.

“Located in the Molonglo Valley Stage 3 subdivision, Whitlam will have views to the Molonglo River and the Brindabella Ranges.

“Gough Whitlam’s contribution to Australia was huge, he changed our nation forever, and I am pleased our city can mark his legacy in this way.

“He has strong links to Canberra being only 10 years old when, in 1926, his father was transferred to the new federal capital. While living at the family home in Forrest, Gough attended Telopea Park Intermediate High School, where he edited the school magazine, the Telopea.

“Gough completed the leaving certificate in 1931 but at 15, he was considered too young to go to university so was sent to Canberra Grammar School to further his grounding in the classics by studying Ancient Greek. He enrolled at the University of Sydney in 1935.”

Minister for Planning Mick Gentleman joined the Chief Minister to commend the new suburb today.

“In 2010 Mr Whitlam responded to the ACT Place Names Committee to give his personal permission for his name to be commemorated as a suburb name in the ACT,” Mick said.

“Gough was a great man, and a great political activist who, along with his wife Margaret achieved great outcomes for Australians that we are still thankful for today.

“Gough Whitlam passed away on 21 October 2014 and the subsequent decision to name the Canberra suburb has been welcomed by his family.

“Under the current indicative land release program, the first release of 500 dwellings in Whitlam will commence in 2018-19 with occupancy expected the following year,” Minister Gentleman concluded.

[Photo: Clifton Pugh (1924–1990) The Hon. Edward Gough Whitlam AC QC, 1972, Historic Memorials Collection, Parliament House Art Collection, Department of Parliamentary Services, Canberra, ACT]