Proposed name 'Harnath' for road in Pimpinio

Background

The Naming rules for places in Victoria are the statutory guidelines provided in the Geographic Place Names Act 1998; and are mandatory for all naming authorities in Victoria and include all government-owned or administered roads, features (natural or otherwise) and localities. Based on national standards and policies, they provide a strong basis for standardised and clear naming procedures across the state.

Members of the public are encouraged to participate in the naming process in Victoria by proposing a name, initiating a proposal or responding to a relevant naming authority regarding a naming proposal.

Council has received a naming proposal from a member of the public, to name an unnamed road Harnath Road. The unnamed road proposed for renaming is the road marked in yellow below that runs between Reinheimers Road and Drendels Road, Pimpinio.

Further info

The submission in support of the name said:

"Johann Harnath was born March 17, 1845, and travelled to Vectis East from Lake Linlithgow in the Western District with his brother Martin Harnath. The brothers were pioneer settlers who purchased land in Vectis East from 1872 to 1873. Martin eventually surrendered his entitlement to the land to his brother Johann, who had full ownership.

After passing away in 1887, Johann's wife remarried and continued farming the Vectis East property with the help of their son Fred Harnath.

Fred was the only Harnath family member to remain in the area. 1905 Fred began working at May & Milar Foundry, where he was the head striker for two years before returning to the family farm. Fred later sold his inheritance of the Vectis East farm and purchased farmland at Greenland Dam, now Dooen. The Harnath family still owns this property.

Fred contributed to the Greenland Dam community where possible, often attending social events and following his Christian Faith in helping others. Notably, Fred helped to arrange a meeting between the district families to discuss installing telephone lines in the area. Fred was the secretary of this venture and traveled to Ararat to learn how to connect lines and install phones in homes. During the First World War, Fred played the Violin at 'send-offs' and 'Welcome homes' for the servicemen and women.

Fred married in 1933 and later welcomed a son, John Graham Harnath. John continued to extend the Harnath farms by purchasing land in Pimpinio. The properties in Pimpinio and Dooen remain in the Harnath name and are still farmed by John and his stepsons."

Where to from here

Council will review the results of the survey and determine whether the proposed name will apply to the road.