McAdie Lane Name Endorsed To Honour Local Community Volunteer
Ararat Rural City Council has endorsed the official naming of the laneway between Elizabeth and McGibbony Streets in Ararat as McAdie Lane, recognising the long association of the McAdie family with the area and the contribution of former resident, the late Mr Ian McAdie, to local community life.
At its Council Meeting on 30 June 2026, Council confirmed the proposal to name the previously unnamed laneway that runs parallel to Vincent and Palmer Streets as McAdie Lane, following a period of community consultation via Engage Ararat.
The name was originally suggested by a former resident who lived nearby, seeking to acknowledge the McAdie family’s long connection to the neighbourhood and Ian McAdie’s decades of involvement in local clubs, events, and facilities.
Ian McAdie lived adjacent to the laneway for nearly 60 years and was widely known in the community for his onvolvement in establishing the Ararat Bird Club, which met at the Angling Club Hall, and regularly volunteered his time at the Ararat Velodrome and the trotting track, including assisting between races and operating the mobile start gates when they were first introduced.
Ian also played an important role in the Golden Gateway Parade and contributed to many other community activities over the years, always looking for practical ways to support local events and organisations.
Ararat Rural City Council Chief Executive Officer, Dr Tim Harrison, said the decision reflects Council’s ongoing commitment to recognising local stories and the contributions of residents who have given generously to the community over many years. “McAdie Lane is a fitting way to acknowledge Ian and the McAdie family’s connection to this part of Ararat, and the many hours Ian spent supporting local clubs, events, and facilities,” Dr Harrison said. “We know that these kinds of contributions often happen quietly, without fanfare, yet they make a real difference to how our community functions and how people feel about the place they call home.”
Dr Harrison thanked community members for taking part in the consultation and sharing their feedback through Engage Ararat. “Council really values the input we receive when we bring proposals like this to the community,” he said. “People’s local knowledge and perspectives help us make decisions that respect the character of our neighbourhoods, and that is something we want to keep building on.”
Community feedback on the proposal was invited for at least 30 days, with nearby property owners notified directly and residents encouraged to share their views via Engage Ararat. Council will now progress the necessary steps to update relevant records and signage in line with Geographic Names Victoria processes.
