Colquhoun Lane officially approved

Geographic Names Victoria (GNV) has now accepted the proposal to name the unnamed lane at Barkly Square Colquhoun Lane.

The name will be officially gazetted in the Victorian Government Gazette on 5 February 2025, marking the final step in the formal naming process.

What happens next

  • Gazette notice

    Official gazettal The name Colquhoun Lane will be formally gazetted in the Victorian Government Gazette on 5 February 2025.

  • Signage and information

    Council will update signage and install an information poster at Barkly Square recognising Amalie Colquhoun and her contribution to the community.

  • ​No address changes

    No properties use this lane as an address, and the name and address of Barkly Square will remain unchanged.

  • Maps and records updated

    State and council records will be updated to reflect the new lane name.

Thank you for your feedback!

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on the commemorative naming proposal to name the unnamed lane at Barkly Square Colquhoun Lane in honour of the late Amalie Colquhoun.

Geographic Names Victoria has now accepted the proposal, and the name will be officially gazetted in the Victorian Government Gazette on 5 February 2025.

We appreciate your contributions to the consultation process.

Thank you to everyone who shared their views on the commemorative naming proposal to name the unnamed lane at Barkly Square 'Colquhoun Lane' after the late Amalie Colquhoun.

  • What we heard

We received 36 submissions, with the majority of feedback (60%) supporting the proposed name. All submitters have been contacted directly with a formal response.

Some feedback related to the pronunciation of Colquhoun Lane. While pronunciation or spelling guidance cannot be included on street signage under Australian Standards, Council will install a poster on the Barkly Square information board. This will share information about Amalie Colquhoun, her contributions to the community, and include a helpful pronunciation guide.

Please note:

  • No properties use this lane as their address
  • The name and address of Barkly Square will remain unchanged
  • Council decision

At its meeting on 10 December 2025, Council adopted the name Colquhoun Lane. The adopted name will now be lodged with Geographic Names Victoria. Once lodged, members of the public may still make a formal appeal directly to Geographic Names Victoria.

  • After Council’s decision

    Council’s role in the naming proposal is now complete. The adopted name will be lodged with Geographic Names Victoria. After it is lodged, any formal appeals must be made directly to Geographic Names Victoria, not to Council.

    Click here to view the 10 December Council Meeting 

  • Grounds for appeal

    Appeals must be in writing and meet the requirements of the Naming Rules for Places in Victoria (2022).

    Appeals can only be considered if they relate to either:

    • Council did not consider objections during its deliberations, or
    • The proposal does not reasonably conform to the naming rules.

    Click here to visit Geographic Names Victoria 

  • How to lodge an appeal

    Appeals should be sent to:

    • Registrar of Geographic Names Geographic Names Victoria, Department of Transport and Planning GPO Box 2392, Melbourne VIC 3001 or emailed to geo.names@transport.vic.gov.au.
    • Appeals that do not address one of the specified grounds cannot be considered

    Read more on the GNV Appeal Process here 

Thank you again to everyone who shared feedback on the proposal to name the lane at Barkly Square ‘Colquhoun Lane’ in honour of the late Amalie Colquhoun.

NP245 Unnamed Lane at Barkly Square - Colquhoun Lane


The City of Ballarat received a place naming nomination from a descendant of Amalie Colquhoun through the Victorian Governments Remember a local- Name a place campaign.

As a part of a gender equity pilot program, the City of Ballarat is working to increase female representation in place naming across the municipality, as supported by this proposal.

By commemorating Amalie through this place naming, we can celebrate her significant impact on art and education through the lane at Barkly Squares education and training precinct.

Naming this lane will not change any current property addresses.


Who was Amalie Colquhoun?

Amalie Colquhoun was born in 1894 in Murtoa, Victoria. In the early-mid 20th Century, she was a pioneering female artist in the art and education sectors. During her lifetime, she became a renowned portrait painter and art teacher.

Amalie started her passion for art in Ballarat in the early 1900s, Amalie studied drawing and design at Ballarat Technical Art School and then went on to be the art mistress at Ballarat Technical Art School in the Early 1920s. Harold Herbert at the Ballarat Technical Art School described Amalie as being one of the most brilliant students to ever pass through the school. Amalie went on to teach at Sebastopol Primary School as well. She also designed a series of significant stained glass memorial windows for the local high schools and churches in Ballarat.

Amalie later went on to establish an art school with her husband in NSW, where they taught and mentored many artists. Several went on to become nationally recognised. She also became one of Australia's leading children's portrait artists.

Her lasting impact on Ballarat is still visible today. Her stained-glass windows can be seen at Lydiard Street Uniting Church, Mount Pleasant Methodist Church and St Andrew's Kirk. Her artworks are also held in the collections of the National Gallery of Victoria, State library of Victoria, Art Gallery of NSW and the Queensland Art Gallery.

To learn more about Amalie's contributions to Ballarat and Victoria, you can read Federation University's Honour Roll article on Amalie Colquhoun - Amalie Sarah Feild-Colquhoun

Amalie Colquhoun was nominated through the Remember a Local - Name a Place campaign. If you would like to nominate someone to be commemorated through a Road, Locality or Geographic Feature within the municipality or beyond, please nominate through the Remember a Local - Name a Place campaign - Name a Place Victoria

Commemorative naming proposals follow a set criteria as set out by Naming rules for places in Victoria. A person's achievement, relevant history and association to the area is considered before a naming proposal is initiated. For commemorative road naming proposals, it is preferred that the only the last name be used and the naming of living people is generally not permitted. A detailed biography of the individual being commemorated must be included in the naming proposal.



The City of Ballarat is actively developing a commemorative name bank to facilitate future naming proposals for various locations and features within the city. This initiative aims to honour individuals who have made significant contributions to the community or have historical importance. If you have a person in mind who you believe deserves recognition in Ballarat, and they meet the established commemorative naming requirements, you are encouraged to submit your suggestion to the Naming Officer and the Naming Officer will let you know if they meet the critera. Or alternatively you can nominate someone through the Remember a Local- Name a place campaign . Nominations through this campaign will be submitted to the respective councils for consideration in place naming.

The City of Ballarat is currently a part of the Finding Her Research Hub pilot program in partnership with Her Place Women's Museum, to strengthen inclusive storytelling and commemorate the women who have shaped the region. This work is proudly supported by Geographic Names Victoria as part of a statewide effort to improve gender equity in commemorative place naming. We are inviting, but not limited to, commemorative naming nominations that highlight women and gender diverse people who are underrepresented in place naming around the municipality.

Name: Maddison Campbell

Email: Maddisoncampbell@ballarat.vic.gov.au

Subject Line: Commemorative Name Suggestion

Content: Please include a short biography of the person you are nominating, including birth date and the date of their passing, their relevant area to Ballarat, and the contact details of any relevant living family members if known.

Council is required to seek public comment before making any decision on a naming proposal as per the Naming rules for victoria 2022. Interested parties are encouraged to make submissions, whether for or against a proposal.

Please note that any proposed names must conform with the Naming rules for places in Victoria- Statutory requirements for naming roads, feature and localities 2022. This document is included in the Document Library on this page. Further information on the naming guidelines is provided by the State Government at Naming Rules- Place Naming

Submissions can be made in the below feedback form or alternatively via email or post. In your submission, please indicate if you support the proposed name and briefly discuss why and/or demonstrate how the proposal does not conform to the naming rules for places in Victoria

Submissions on the proposed name of 'Colquhoun Lane' are invited and will be received by council until 5pm 6th of October 2025.

If no submissions are made it will be assumed that there are no objections, and council will proceed with the naming Process

  • Email: Info@ballarat.vic.gov.au with NP245 Unnamed Lane at Barkly Square- Colquhoun Lane in the subject line
  • Post: Letter addressed to the Naming Officer in Property and Facilities and can be mailed to Post Office Boc 655 Ballarat VIC 3353 Quoting the reference NP245 Unnamed Lane at Barkly Square- Colquhoun Lane

  • Email

    info@ballarat.vic.gov.au with NP245: Unnamed Lane at Barkly Square- Colquhoun Lane

  • Post

    Letter addressed to the Naming Officer in Property and Facilities and can be mailed to Post Office Box 655 BALLARAT VIC 3353 quoting the reference NP245: Unnamed Lane at Barkly Square- Colquhoun Lane

  • Call

    Have questions or want to learn more? Contact us on (03) 5320 5500 or email maddisoncampbell@ballarat.vic.gov.au.

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