The new walkway bridge in Yoogali could soon be named after a famous Griffith family. Photo: Griffith City Council.
Griffith Council will vote on naming a new walkway bridge next to Mackay Avenue and Macedone Road in honour of the pioneering Valentini family at its meeting next Tuesday (22 July).
The family have owned a farm across the road since about 1937. The now deceased Valentino (Val) Valentini was a lifetime member of Pioneer Park Museum, while his wife Josephine still resides in Griffith. The couple were involved in many charities helping people in need.
The proposal was made by Councillor Mark Dal Bon at a meeting in May. The public were given 28 days to provide feedback on the proposal. According to the council papers, four submissions were made in favour of the bridge renaming and four opposed it.
General manager Brett Stonestreet recommended the new structure be named ‘Valentini Bridge’.
The walkway will replace the old Penfolds Bridge, which was situated at the Burley Griffin Rest Area at the intersection of Mackay Avenue and Bridge Road and used by pedestrians to cross the channel between 1975 and 2020, when it was removed.
“Given that the Penfolds Bridge has recently been removed, a new pedestrian bridge on the northern side of the road will cater for new residential developments in Macedone Road and the growing population of Yoogali,” the minutes of the December 2020 council meeting stated.
The council papers state it will consider continuing to honour the legacy of the Penfold family and their significant contributions to Griffith, and respect the Penfold family by preserving their name and uphold previous recommendations recorded in council minutes to relocate the Penfold bridge.
“Further searches of council records revealed that the Valentini family has already been honoured through the naming of farmland they owned on Mackay Avenue as ‘Battista Estate’. This estate also includes a road – ‘Battista Street’, commemorating Giovanni Battista Valentini, who is identified in council records as the father of Valentino Valentini,” the council papers state.
Griffith Council has been naming various landmarks such as bridges, carparks and roundabouts after identities and groups who have made a significant contribution to the town. The concept was championed by former councillor Simon Croce.
A Thorne Road roundabout was named Khalsa Chowk, which means Pure Junction. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
In June a roundabout on Griffith’s Thorne Road was named Khalsa Chowk (pronounced khal-sa chowek), after a sign was erected displaying the new name in the English and Punjabi alphabets. The name honours the Sikh community and their extensive charity work.
In 2023, three carparks in Railway Street were named after Bob Stevenson, who built Stevenson’s Blue Metal Quarry; Fred Eardley, a pioneer who opened the town’s first haberdashery store; and Eugene Jasnos, a Polish immigrant shoemaker.
Earlier this year, the council proposed naming the grassed median strip on Ortella Street after the Goslett family, whose members have contributed to the town for 95 years and served their country in overseas conflicts.
