By CASEY NEILL
GRENDA Lane’s return to central Dandenong has been halted.
Greater Dandenong Council will instead suggest the name Depot Lane for the road running north-south between George Street and Halpin Way, immediately east of Rudduck Street.
A Grenda Lane previously existed south of George Street, along the former Grenda bus depot site, but was closed when the Revitalising Central Dandenong program started.
In September 2013 the Journal reported that the family name would again take pride of place, but the Office of Geographic Names rejected the council’s application.
The knock-back was on the grounds that it could be confused with Grenda Court in Dandenong South.
The council twice unsuccessfully appealed the decision to the Registrar for Geographic Names and the Planning Minister.
The Depot Lane alternative followed consultation with the Grenda family.
George Grenda started Grenda Bus Company in 1945 in a depot in Foster Street.
It grew as Dandenong grew and in the 1940s and ’50s played an important role in transporting GMH, Heinz and International Harvester workers.
It became a major player in the Australian bus industry and the workplace for four generations of Grendas.
Ken sold the transport monolith for $500 million in 2012 and shared $15 million among his employees.
Ken was named the City of Greater Dandenong Corporate Citizen of the Year on Australia Day in 2012 and joined the Honour Roll of the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame.
