Council & Politics
29 July, 2026
Push to honour Chinese pioneer
THE naming of a lane running between Banfield Street and George Road is heating up with local historians proposing a name linked to Ararat’s Chinese heritage.
Earlier this month, the Advocate reported that several nearby residents were keen on the name Oak Lane because of the number of oak trees that used to line the laneway.
However, members of Ararat Genealogical Society have lodged a different proposal to council for the lane to become known as Mow Fung Lane, aften early Chinese pioneer Mow Fung.
Mow Fung arrived in Ararat is 1868 and was held in high regard across the Ararat community.
Mow Fung was a prominent Chinese storekeeper and hotelier in the Ararat and Stawell regions.
Arriving in Australia in 1857, he eventually operated the Junction Hotel at nearby Deep Lead and the Mullock Bank store.
He made history locally for successfully raising a large family in regional Victoria before returning to Hong Kong.
In its submission to council, the Ararat Genealogical Society says the name has a strong connection to Ararat’s history.
The Society argues the name would be appropriate as Ararat was founded by the Chinese, yet no thoroughfare has been named after a Chinese person.
“We think it is time for council to address this anomaly,” the society said.
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