The Wanganui suburb of Gonville takes its name from the name of a subdivision of Peter Imlay's property on his death in 1881. The subdivision was carried out on the instructions of his Son-in-law Dr George Saunders and he chose this name in memory of his college Gonville at the Cambridge University.
The Maori had no name for the area except at the seaward end which was named Kokohuia, which refered to the pollen of the Flax Flower.
Dr Peter Wilson was the first occupier of the area and he named it Bellhaven. On his departure for New Plymouth, Peter Imlay bought the property and renamed it Balgownie after his home in Scotland
However, between town and Balgownie was an area of land owned by Rev Richard Taylor. He named the farm Carlton after a village church of Carlton near his birth place Lettwell. The street which formed the boundary to the property was called Carlton Avenue
Dr Saunders had the adjoining farm which he called Alma which is remembered in Alma Road. He chose the name Alma to commemorate the part his father had played in the Battle Of Alma.
Dr Saunders, when the property was cut up, in 1902,named Cambridge Street after his old University, Gonville Avenue after his old college and gave the name of two other colleges at Cambridge to Caius Avenue and Kings Avenue. Saunders Place is named after him
Further reading about the naming of streets in Wanganui can be found in the book titled, "Streets of Wanganui"by Athol Kirk ISBN No. 04730074606