Ararat Rural City Council has formally endorsed the name Sparrows Lane following an extensive community consultation process and a Council decision at the 27 January 2026 Council Meeting, with the name now set to be submitted to the Registrar of Geographic Names for final approval.
The name recognises the historical release of sparrows in Ararat, an event that marked an unusual and fascinating chapter in the town's story and has been documented in local records over many years. Council invited community members to have their say on the proposal and received a thoughtful range of submissions reflecting different perspectives on how the event should be acknowledged today.
Ararat Rural City Council Mayor and Councillors considered the feedback in depth before resolving to proceed with the name Sparrows Lane, in conjunction with a new piece of public art that will become part of Ararat's urban landscape. The lane name, public art and an informative plaque are designed to tell the story in a creative way, encourage learning and reflection, and add interest to the public realm in this part of the town centre.
Ararat Rural City Council CEO, Dr Tim Harrison, said the decision aimed to balance an honest account of history with opportunities for education.
"We know sparrows are not native to Australia, and that decisions made in the past have had environmental impacts that we understand very differently today," Dr Harrison said. "Council's view is that we are better off acknowledging that history in full, providing context, and inviting people to think about what it means, rather than covering things up or pretending it never happened."
"By pairing the Sparrows Lane name with the sculpture and a clear explanation on the plaque, we are creating a point of interest that sparks curiosity, conversation, and learning. It is an opportunity to look at our past with clear eyes, to understand how our community has changed over time, and to keep improving the way we care for our local environment into the future."
Council has thanked everyone who contributed to the consultation, noting that the diversity of views shared helped shape Councillors' deliberations and the final decision. Implementation of the Sparrows Lane name, including required approvals and installation of signage and interpretive elements, will now proceed in line with statutory naming processes.
