Updated 1 March, 2023

Gunnedah Shire has a long history with the Sydney suburb of Lane Cove. In November 2001, Lane Cove adopted Gunnedah as its Friendship Town under the Green Hands initiative which aimed to link metropolitan and country councils where tree planting and other environmental works were needed.

As a result, a delegation of Lane Cove Councillors and Council staff visited Gunnedah and after the visit, it was agreed that the two Councils would work together to develop Gunnedah's Wandobah Reserve Wetlands. The project reached the design stage but drought conditions delayed further works.

By late 2002, the Gunnedah Shire was experiencing the worst drought in living memory and the two councils joined forces to hold a Drought Breaker concert. The drought aid concert was held at St Ignatius College Riverview Hall on Friday, December 6, 2002 and featured performances by about 60 talented Gunnedah's youth including musicians, dancers, singers, whip-crackers and gymnasts. Proceeds from the concert were given to the Red Cross Farmhand Drought Relief Appeal.

Gunnedah Shire and Lane Cover announced a formal Sister City relationship at the concert and have been building on the relationship since through reciprocal visits and communications.

Lane Cove has continued to be a friend to Gunnedah during times of drought, with the Rain Bringer concert in 2020, and other generations donations from the community.

Lane Cove also hosted the photographic exhibition Sirens of Gunnedah in 2020.