Laurieton Common is no more....it’s Longworth Park.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council made the name change official at their monthly meeting last week.

Local residents appealed to the council to name the park in honour of the pioneering family, after the council floated the idea at the August meeting to name the site Dooragan Park.

During the public consultation period the council received a number of responses from various individuals and community groups, including the Bunyah Aboriginal Land Council and National Parks and Wildlife Service, opposing the Dooragan name.

Council administrator Garry Payne said feedback indicated the choice of Dooragan was inappropriate and not supported. Confusion with Dooragan National Park (North Brother Mountain, a specific site with cultural significance to the Aboriginal community) and the name Dooragan which is from a different language group to the traditional owners the Birpai, were both cited as reasons for not adopting the name Dooragan Park.

“The most popular name for the land was Longworth Park - in honour of the Longworth family, in particular Robert Longworth, who donated the land and provided timber to construct the now deconsecrated church,” said Mr Payne.

“It seems fitting that the Longworth family’s contribution to the Laurieton community be recognised in this way and our community consultation process has shown us that there is clear community support for the name Longworth Park.”

The Longworth family’s influence in the Camden Haven can be traced back to Laurieton’s timber pioneering days. In 1900 the family established a sawmill at the Camden Haven River Inlet and started one of the largest enterprises in the industry.

Robert Longworth’s grandson Bob Longworth welcomed the name for the site.

“It’s a wonderful tribute to a wonderful man,” Mr Longworth said, who was unaware the public strongly voiced their support for the Longworth name.

Camden Haven Historical Society president Phil Bowman said the new name was an excellent result for public opinion.

“The name Longworth Park reflects on the pioneers of the area and shows an appreciation for what they did building the foundations for what we have today,” Mr Bowman said.

The site, home to the original Holy Trinity Anglican Church, was purchased in 2005 from the Anglican Church who proposed to sell the land opposite the Laurieton School of Arts.

With support and finance from Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, the Camden Haven community raised the necessary funds to secure the site, to preserve its historical significance and create an open space for community and cultural events.