Cade Lucas
Ironbark Field is the likely new name of Western United’s home ground in Tarneit.
On Tuesday night Wyndham council voted in favour of the name which was chosen by more than 800 respondents to a public poll conducted from December 23 to February 18.
The proposal is now subject to a 30-day public notice period before a final decision is made at a council meeting in April.
While it’s unlikely that Ironbark won’t end up being name of the field and pavilion at Western United’s Tarneit base, it won’t be officially gazetted in time for the club’s first game there on Sunday March 17, when its women’s team host the Newcastle Jets.
Instead the ground will still be known by its current name, the regional football facility.
Whatever the eventual name, the field will serve as Western United’s home ground during construction of the larger, 15,000 seat Wyndham Stadium, next door and will revert to being its training facility afterwards.
Referring to the eucalyptus tree of the same name, Ironbark was selected ahead of Davis, after early Wyndham farmer Septimus Davis and also the name of a nearby road and creek.
Wyndham council unanimously approved the Ironbark name, with deputy mayor and Tarneit resident, councillor Josh Gilligan, saying it would help make the stadium and training facility an “iconic location” and a “transformative precinct” that would “change Tarneit forever.”
Along with the training facility and Wyndham Stadium, once complete the Leakes Road precinct will also feature an 800-lot residential community.
