THE NAME of Dubbo sporting legend Bob Spears is to be erased from a street and park in the former Gordon Estate as NSW Housing pushes forward with a proposal to destigmatise residential roads once associated with crime, unrest and an alcohol-fuelled riot.
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In January 2006 Gordon Estate was labelled one of the state’s most notorious social housing precincts when violence erupted on its streets.
More than 100 people launched an attack against police, setting fire to a police car and destroying houses.
The riot followed years of law and order problems in the area.
As difficulties worsened the NSW government decided to relocate residents and bulldoze, sell-off and re-build houses.
Gordon Estate was renamed Rosewood Grove in line with a government strategy to revitalise the area.
NSW Housing is now stepping up the rebadging campaign by lodging an application with Dubbo City Council to change the name of 18 streets in Rosewood Grove.
Roads including Linda and Catherine drives, Yulong Street and Pinnaroo Place will be renamed under a native plant species theme.
Spears Drive will be called Casuarina Drive. Spears Park (on the corner of Spears Drive and Bunglegumbie Road) will be renamed Rosewood Park.
High-profile Dubbo cyclists Darrell and Raymond Wheeler aren’t happy with the loss of Spears Drive, named in memory of Dubbo sports star Robert “Long Bob” Spears.
Mr Spears was born in Dubbo in 1893 and blitzed local, state and national cycling competitions before rising to international prominence.
He was acclaimed as the world’s greatest cyclist in an international career spanning two decades from 1910-30.
An exhibition honouring Bob Spears is on permanent display at Western Plains Cultural Centre.
Darrell and Raymond Wheeler believe Mr Spears should never be forgotten. Yesterday the father and son spent time looking through a cherished scrapbook of Bob Spears memorabilia.
“It is insulting to the memory of such an important man to erase his name (from the Dubbo landscape),’’ Raymond Wheeler said.
“Dubbo has not produced many world champions. Spears Drive and Spears Park should definitely remain as they are.’’
Darrell Wheeler agreed.
“Bob Spears grew up in West Dubbo and would have cycled all over the area now known as Rosewood Grove,’’ he said.
“He was a great man and a brilliant cyclist.’’
