Officially known as Short Street, the road which juts off the end of Edward Street could be officially renamed Savages Lane after a three-year campaign to have it named after the family who first settled the farm in 1854.  

Pam Savage first wrote to Corangamite Shire Council three years ago in an attempt to have the lane officially named in honour of her great-great-grandparents John and Margaret. 

Corangamite Shire advertised the proposed change last weekend giving ratepayers until August 29 to make written submissions. 

“Everyone in Cobden knows it as Savages Lane, it’s the only property on the lane and it’s even marked on some maps and the GPS systems as Savages Lane,” she said. 

“It was knocked back because they said a road wouldn’t be named after living people, but I wanted it named in honour of my great-great-grandparents, not myself. 

“Our local councillor Jo Beard took the issue up and hasn’t let it go for the past three years.” 

Ms Savage said her great-great-grandparents arrived from Ireland as newlyweds in 1854. They disembarked in Portland before travelling to a migrant camp at Ewen Hill, near Camperdown, where they selected the land they wanted to settle. 

“Four generations of my family lived and worked on the farm until January this year, when I had to sell it and move into town when it became a bit much to manage,” she said. 

“It’s very exciting that it looks like it’s about to change. Our great-great-grandparents’ grave never had a headstone until a few years ago. It was unmarked for more than 100 years. So we got that done and now it looks like this is happening as well. It’s nice to be able to give them  some recognition.”