Maribyrnong City Council is proposing to name an unnamed road in Yarraville and we are seeking your feedback on the proposed name Keelan Lane.
Location of the Unnamed Road
The unnamed laneway proposed to be named Keelan Lane is located between Francis and Hawkhurst Streets, Yarraville, as shown outlined on the below aerial map.
Background
Note: the below statement has been provided by a family member.
Keelan Lane is being proposed in recognition of Ian Keelan, the first shop owner along Wembley Avenue, Yarraville.
In 1960, Ian opened a pharmacy at 24 Wembley Avenue. He saw great potential in the area and encouraged others to invest in the strip, even convincing a friend to open a butcher shop next door. With Ian’s encouragement, more shops soon followed – including a fruit and vegetable store, fish shop, delicatessen, and grocery store.
As the shopping strip began to grow, Ian established the Wembley Progress Association, bringing together local business owners to advocate for improvements to the precinct. Under his leadership, the Association worked with the former City of Footscray on initiatives such as installing parallel parking bays, which were the first such type of parking in the area at the time.
Throughout his long tenure as President of the Wembley Progress Association, Ian made numerous representations on behalf of the group. This included approaching the State Savings Bank of Victoria to establish a local branch, and later after the succeeding Commonwealth Bank of Australia closed, Ian successfully applied to have a sub-agency installed in his pharmacy to initially provide a service for the local community where they could pay bills and transact limited banking plus postal services. He also supported the owner of the local grocery store to meet the requirements needed to become a licensed grocer – at a time when no such licensed premises existed in the area.
Ian’s efforts were always in the interests of the community. His commitment to service extended well beyond his official duties.
Ian operated his pharmacy from 1960 until his retirement in 1997. Known locally as the trusted family chemist, Ian regularly offered health advice, prepared his own ointments and mixtures, and was known for a Baby Teething Mixture that became highly popular across the western suburbs and beyond – even reaching as far as Ballarat.
In addition to his professional life, Ian was a long-time Yarraville resident and remained active in the community for over 50 years. He lived just around the corner from his pharmacy, in Francis Street. In the early 1960s, Ian joined the Yarraville Seddon Bowling Club (YSBC), then located on Whitehall Street – a site surrounded by factories and subject to pollution.
At the time, Ian raised with the YSBC Committee the possibility of relocating to McIvor Reserve – a parcel of land intended for recreation purposes. With Ian’s help, the Committee approached the Footscray Council and the new club was established on McIvor Reserve in the late 1960s, where it remains today.
How to provide feedback
Feedback can be provided by completing the online form below.
All submissions will be considered in accordance with the Naming rules for places in Victoria – 2022 and responded to by Council.
Submissions close at 11:59pm on 6 June 2025.
Click here to view form.