Brimbank City Council in Melbourne’s north west has agreed to sell a parcel of land to the Vietnamese Museum of Australia, paving the way for the construction of a nationally significant cultural museum.
In December 2023, the council entered into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Vietnamese Museum Australia for the sale of a council-owned car park site near Sunshine station, for the establishment of the cultural building.
Following a period of community consultation, the council has now confirmed the sale.
A pre-existing design for the museum by Konzepte Melbourne incorporates elements from both Vietnamese and Australian culture, with a wave-like facade representing the journey overseas, and bamboo exterior details symbolising the use of bamboo as a main construction material in Vietnam. A warm and earthy colour palette has been proposed to reference Australia’s red-coloured soil.
Vietnamese Museum Australia (VMA), designed by Konzepte Melbourne.
Image:
Konzepte Melbourne
Once constructed, it will become one of six cultural museums in the Multicultural Museums Victoria Network.
Residents with Vietnamese ancestry make up 17 percent of the population of Brimbank, make it the largest cultural cohort in the area.
Brimbank City Council said it will create a “welcome plaza” on council land adjacent to the proposed museum site that will celebrate all refugee and multicultural communities in its municipality.
“Brimbank prides itself on its diversity. We’re one of Victoria’s most culturally diverse municipalities and this museum will be a significant drawcard for our city,” said Brimbank mayor Ranka Rasic. “As mayor of a council with one of the largest Vietnamese communities in Victoria, I look forward to the construction of this significant cultural centre in the very heart of our diverse community.”
The proposed museum will add to the transformation of Sunshine, with a number of project, including the airport rail, and a 90-bed hotel, in the pipeline.
“It’s time for the Melbourne Airport Rail, including Sunshine and Albion Station works committed to by State and Federal Governments, to start. We need this infrastructure to support large numbers of people who will want to come, visit and stay in Sunshine if we are going to make the most of this exciting opportunity.”
Source: Architecture - architectureau
