Laneway Stories

Help Shape the Future of Armidale’s Laneways

Over the years, several studies have highlighted the importance of improving wayfinding and walkability in the Armidale CBD. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is through streetscape upgrades that create vibrant, welcoming public spaces that make the city centre more attractive for locals and visitors alike.

As part of this vision, Council has identified a number of unnamed public laneways (used by both pedestrians and vehicles) throughout the CBD. Naming these laneways presents a unique opportunity to enhance navigation, while also activating these spaces through creative improvements.

We’re launching the Laneway Stories project to bring these spaces to life. By giving each laneway a meaningful name tied to a common theme, we can create a connected trail of stories across the CBD. These stories will be celebrated through signage, heritage interpretation, murals, sound trails, art installations, and more, turning everyday walkways into memorable experiences.

This project supports several existing CBD plans and aligns with Council’s Property Addressing and Naming our Roads and Places Policy (adopted May 2024).

Several suitable names have been identified which reflect the historic nature of each of the laneways and their connection to surrounding buildings including their current and former uses.

Laneway names have been chosen as follows:

Location: 133 Beardy Street
Proposed Name: Bank Lane

This laneway connects East Mall to Woodward Street and has long served as a pedestrian route through the Armidale CBD. Historically, it was flanked by two major banking institutions - AMP from the 1930s and ANZ from the mid-1960s to the 1990s - making “Bank Lane” a fitting name.

Originally an informal accessway, Council formalised the laneway in 1995 to ensure continued public access between shopping areas and carparks. However, it was never officially named.

Naming it Bank Lane reflects its historical significance and supports the goals of the Laneway Stories project and Council’s adopted naming policy.

Location: 105A Faulkner Street
Proposed Name: Impies Lane

This laneway provides vehicle access from Faulkner Street to carparking areas behind several commercial buildings. Locally, it’s long been known as “Impies Laneway” due to its close connection to the Imperial Hotel, which operated on the adjacent site from the 1890s until 2023.

The name Impies Lane reflects this strong historical and cultural link, and fits well within the goals of the Laneway Stories project and Council’s naming policy.

Location: 26 Cinders Lane
Proposed Name: Wellington Walkway

This pedestrian walkway links Cinders Lane to The Mall and has long provided access to both the former Commonwealth Bank building and the neighbouring Tattersalls Hotel.

Although most of the walkway is privately owned, the southern section is Council-owned and forms part of a well-used pedestrian route. Naming this portion is appropriate and helps formalise its role in the CBD.

The name Wellington Walkway reflects the historical name of the Tattersalls Hotel, which operated as the Wellington Hotel from 1858 to the early 1880s. The name was suggested by the Armidale and District Historical Society and aligns with Council’s naming policy and the goals of the Laneway Stories project.

Location: 100 Faulkner Street
Proposed Name: Old Court House Walkway

This walkway historically connected Moore Street to Beardy Street and was used by pedestrians from the 1860s until its closure by the NSW Government in 2009. Council now plans to reopen and enhance the space as part of the Old Court House Laneway project.

The name Old Court House Walkway reflects the site’s long-standing role as Armidale’s courthouse, which operated there from the late 1860s until 2013. The proposed name aligns with Council’s naming policy and supports the goals of the Laneway Stories project.

Location: Road Reserve behind former Local Lands Council Building
Proposed Name: Barnet Lane

This unnamed laneway provides informal vehicle and pedestrian access behind several commercial buildings in the Armidale CBD. It is owned and managed by Council.

The name Barnet Lane honours James Barnet, a renowned Colonial Architect who designed four nearby heritage-listed buildings: the former Lands Building, Post Office, Commercial Bank of Australia (also used as the Telegraph Office), and the remodelled Old Court House. These buildings are among Armidale’s most significant civic landmarks.

Naming the laneway Barnet Lane recognises this architectural legacy and aligns with Council’s naming policy and the Laneway Stories project.

We want to hear from you! Share your ideas and help us shape the stories behind Armidale’s laneways.

Submissions are invited and must be addressed to the General Manager, Armidale Regional Council, PO Box 75A, Armidale, NSW 2350, or sent by email to council@armidale.nsw.gov.au and marked 'Submission on Laneway Stories'.

Submissions must be received by Thursday 23 October 2025

Please be aware that if you make a submission, other people may have access to your comments. This may be as a result of a report to a Council meeting or as part of an application under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009. Also, under State legislation, any person making a submission on a Laneway Stories project must also disclose whether they or an ‘associate’ have made a ‘reportable political donation’ or gift to a local Councillor or Council employee within the period commencing two years before any submission is made and ending when the Laneway Stories project exhibition period has ended. Further details including disclosure forms are available on request from Council.