Hotel Loses Bid To Name Laneway After Rocker Davey Lane

Local council has knocked back a bid by the Yarra Hotel to name an Abbotsford laneway behind the hotel after local rocker Davey Lane. The council said the novel name is not in line with State Government policies.

As reported by the Herald Sun, publicans of the Yarra Hotel, Greg Kleynjans and Mick Thomas, appealed to the council seeking a name for the large laneway behind the hotel, suggesting the name ‘Davey Lane’ in honour of the acclaimed musician and Abbotsford resident.

Kleynjans said the name would honour the area’s live music heritage and celebrate a new cultural scene. As the lead guitarist of You Am I and frontman of The Pictures, Davey Lane is a staple of the country’s live music scene, having also played with Jimmy Barnes, Charles Jenkins and Fraser A Gorman.

“If AC/DC can get a laneway, why can’t Davey?” Mr Kleynjans said. “He lives at the end of the laneway, he’s a highly respected and revered musician and it might make the area a bit more vibrant and give people a reason to come down.”

While the idea won favour with a number of local residents and businesses, Yarra Mayor Jackie Fristacky said the name fell short of government policies. “While ‘Davey Lane’ is an inventive suggestion, and certainly in keeping with the unique style of Yarra, it isn’t consistent with State Government guidelines or our own policy regarding the Woiwurrung language,” she said.

The Mayor added that the council may consider names outside the guidelines if there was “overwhelming community support”. Councilman Stephen Jolly is on board with the proposal, believing that the AC/DC Lane had added to the CBD’s live music culture. “There has to be some flexibility,” he said.

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