Orange residents have gathered to celebrate the new name for Orange's newest road transport link, which runs along the city's southern outskirts and will open soon.
Brabham Way honours motorsport legend Jack Brabham who competed at the nearby historic Gnoo Blas racing circuit, which surrounds Sir Jack Brabham Park.
The newly named Brabham Way incorporates the previous routes of four roads-Dairy Creek Road, Blowes Road, Huntley Road and Park Road.
Orange City Council decided to unify these roads under a single name in August last year after community consultation and the change was approve by the NSW Geographical Names Board.
LEGEND: Australian Motor Racing legend Sir Jack Brabham
Orange Mayor Tony Mileto met with organisers on the eve of the annual Gnoo Blas Classic car show and residents from along the road to unveil the first of the Brabham Way street signs.
"As the route of the former southern feeder road was upgraded in recent years, it's been hard for locals to tell where Dairy Creek Road became Blowes Road," Cr Tony Mileto said.
"That's going to be the same for people who used to live on Park Road or that section of Huntley Road.
"Whether it's something simple like having a pizza delivered, or something much more serious such as emergency services crews arriving as quickly as possible, calling the whole road by one name is going to be better for local residents as well as visitors to Orange."
Resident Gemma Dwyer has welcomed the new Brabham Way name.
"I appreciate it that Council took the time to ask residents what they thought of the change," Mrs Dwyer said.
"The Brabham name means a lot to local residents. It was the unanimous option that all the residents living on the road wanted. It makes so much sense to have the same street name for the full length of this road."
Born in the Sydney suburb of Hurstville in April 1926, Jack Brabham was an Australian race car driver who won the Formula One (F1) Grand Prix world drivers' championship three times in 1959, 1960, and 1966. In 1966 he became the first driver to win a world driving championship in his own namesake car. He competed in races at the Gnoo Blas circuit in Orange and came to Orange to attend the Gnoo Blas Classic car show in later years.
Sir Jack Brabham died in May 2014.
This year's Gnoo Blas Classic car show from 7-9 February celebrates 65 years since the first Australian Touring Car Championship was held at the Gnoo Blas racing circuit in 1960.
The latest stage of Brabham Way, stretching from Anson Street to Shiralee Road, is expected to open to traffic later this month, weather permitting.
