 Nanpean is believed to be the origin of the name of the Nepean River in Australia, via the colonial administrator Evan Nepean.The Newquay and Cornwall Junction Railway (a branch from the Cornish Main Line at Burngullow) opened as far as Nanpean in 1869 and was extended in 1874 to connect with the Par to Newquay branch at St Dennis Junction.The railway carried goods traffic only so there was never a station at Nanpean; the southern section remains open (2010) for china clay freight trains.