Australia's first ever Vietnamese cultural centre and museum in Sunshine is another step closer, with the project's planning permit given the green light to move forward.
Backed by a $2.3 million Allan Labor Government investment, the project will provide Vietnamese Victorians with a place to celebrate their heritage and preserve stories of migration and refugee settlement.
Located at 119 Durham Road in Sunshine, the museum also reinforces Melbourne's western suburbs as a key locale of Vietnamese culture in Victoria and Australia.
The three-storey building will host exhibitions to honour migrant journeys to freedom and celebrate the significant contributions of the Vietnamese community to the multicultural fabric of Australia, with the museum set to receive more than 280 artefacts.
It will also include a community hub and resource centre for education, as well as a function centre and café to accommodate community events for up to 450 guests from across Victoria, interstate and abroad.
The planning application was submitted as part of the Labor Government's Development Facilitation Program, which streamlines the planning process for priority projects that boost investment into Victoria's economy, keep people in jobs, and create homes for Victorians.
The site is currently owned by Brimbank City Council, is based within the growing Sunshine Metropolitan Activity Centre, and is only a three-minute walk from Sunshine Railway Station.
The Vietnamese Museum Australia will form the sixth cultural museum in the Multicultural Museums Victoria Network, alongside the Hellenic Museum, Museum of Chinese Australian History, Jewish Museum, Islamic Museum and Museo Italiano.
Since 2016, the Labor Government has allocated more than $6.8 million to the Vietnamese Museum Australia, acknowledging the importance of the 120,000-plus people of Vietnamese heritage living in Victoria, with more than 93,000 born in Vietnam - making it the fifth largest overseas born population in the state.
As stated by Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ingrid Stitt
"We're continuing to support the future and celebrate the vibrant past of our multicultural state - creating more opportunities to acknowledge the significant contributions made by the Vietnamese community across Victoria."
As stated by Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny
"We're a step closer to delivering a dedicated, accessible and safe place for the Vietnamese community to celebrate their culture, heritage and connection."
As stated by Member for Laverton Sarah Connolly
"The museum's location acknowledges the significant contribution our Vietnamese community has made to Melbourne's west - delivering a dedicated space for us all to share and learn from their culture and traditions."
