A change.org petition set up after the Divinyls singer died in 2013 at the age of 53, has drawn 7,300 signatures. Among those were her husband Charey Drayton, Michael Gudinski, Baby Animals’ Suze de Marchi, her cousin and ‘60s pop singer Little Pattie and actor Noah Taylor.
The initial plan to call the laneway Chrissy Amphlett Lane was turned down by the registrar the Office of Geographic Names because only surnames can be used.
Similarly, ACDC Lane does not have a slash between the AC and DC because the OGN does not recognize these.
Journalist Jessica Adams, who started the petition, has suggested that two laneways bestow honor on her – Amphlett Lane and Chrissy Lane.
Amphlett was born in Geelong and had moved to Sydney by the time she found fame with The Divinyls. But she worked in the CBD as a shop girl in boutiques and did play in venues in the area with the band. The proposed Amphlett Lane backs on to the site of the old Metro/Palace Theatre.
A report to the Council regarding Tuesday’s vote noted, “Consideration also has to be given to the effects of the naming on abutting property owners and business operators.”
