Brimbank City Council is considering the development of the Vietnamese Museum Australia in Sunshine, which would be the first of its kind in Australia.
The nationally significant museum currently has about $18 million of funding, including $10 million federal funding, $7 million state funding, and $1 million community funding, but is looking for a suitable site to be located.
Vietnamese Museum Australia expressed strong interest in locating to the Sunshine CBD after formally rescinding its contract with Maribyrnong City Council for a site in Footscray in October 2023.
Sunshine has a strong Vietnamese community and history, with about 32,000 of Brimbank’s residents – or about 17 per cent of the total Brimbank population – of Vietnamese heritage.
Brimbank City Council said that the opportunity to facilitate the proposed Vietnamese Museum Australia in Brimbank as a national visitor and cultural destination, located adjacent to Sunshine Station, builds on a strong list of already committed investments in Sunshine CBD and that such a development would be a catalyst for further investment and help establish a visitor economy.
To facilitate the process, Council has entered into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Vietnamese Museum Australia.
The museum could potentially be located on part of the Council-owned Durham Road car park site. Any decision to sell part of the Council land at the Durham Road car park would be subject to community engagement and a subsequent decision at a future Council Meeting.
Brimbank City Council Mayor, Ranka Rasic, said that the longstanding and vibrant Vietnamese community that makes up the Sunshine CBD has helped make it a regional destination to experience authentic Vietnamese food, street life and culture.
“Through the Transforming Brimbank program we’re committed to delivering meaningful and generational change for Brimbank, by leveraging major investment and infrastructure opportunities. This is one of those opportunities,” Ms Rasic said.
“Council will be seeking community feedback on the proposed sale of Council land to the Vietnamese Museum Australia from 22 January to 19 February 2024, before Council considers a decision about the sale.”
