allotments close to the train station was consistent with the garden

suburb character that was intended in the original town planning

designs, and perpetuated in the perceptions of Sunshine’s character.

In the early 20th century Sunshine’s generous suburban estates

were atypical of working class housing of the period.

The following features contribute to the significance of the area:

The inter-war single storey shops with their relatively unadorned

parapets in Sun Crescent and City Place. The shopfronts have

been replaced to all these buildings and are not significant, while

the parapets have been painted.

The upper facades and parapets of the double storey inter-war

shops at 111 and 113 Durham Road. No.113 has a Spanish

Mission influenced façade with an arched balcony and a

projecting clay tiled roof. No.111 has Art Deco cubist detailing to

the pilasters and parapet.

Two-storey inter-war shops at 111-113 Durham Road

(Brimbank City Council, 2009)

The former Sunshine Advocate Office at 11-15 Sun Crescent

(individually listed in the Heritage Overlay as HO51), which has

an intact parapet with unpainted brick and render detailing to the

pilasters and top of the parapet. The cantilevered verandahs also

appear to have their original profile.

The Derrimut Hotel (HO65) including the original inter-war

Spanish Mission façade, roof and chimneys. The scale, design

and siting of the Hotel makes it a landmark within the area.

The single storey shops at 5-9 Sun Crescent. Nos 5 and 7 retain

early or original shop-fronts and cantilevered verandahs.

Note: The former ES&A Bank at 115 Durham Road is an individually

significant heritage place (listed as HO63 in the Heritage Overlay

Schedule) which differs from the inter-war character of this precinct.

These specific guidelines form Part 5 of the

These Guidelines apply to heritage properties

within the Sunshine Commercial Heritage Area as shown on the

precinct map below, including some inter-war commercial buildings

with individual heritage overlays. The guidelines are intended to

encourage and support the conservation of the historic character

of the Area by providing additional information that builds upon the

General Guidelines provided in Part 1.

The following information about the significance of this precinct is

drawn from the

2007. Please refer to that study for more information

about the historic development of the Area.

This Sunshine Commercial Area is of local historical and social

significance as a part of a suburb created by Australia’s leading

industrialist, which set a milestone in the development of the

industrial suburb under the influence of the Garden City movement.

Sunshine became a yardstick for planning and housing reformers,

with H.V. McKay being regarded as an expert on planned industrial

housing. The McKay estate is of historical significance as it marks

a crucial phase in the development of Sunshine, reflecting a period

when McKay encouraged or directly provided services to the

resident work force, such as recreation and retail facilities, in order

to develop a stable local economy.

The area is of architectural significance in representing the

prevailing inter-war style of relatively unadorned parapeted single

story shop fronts. The shops are clustered around the Derrimut

Hotel, which is a local landmark

Characterised generally by low flat corrugated iron clad roofs

and cantilevered verandahs, the buildings are also set on typical

narrow frontage allotments, with small rear yards (now generally

redeveloped for storage or parking). The provision of commercial

The former Sunshine Advocate offices (Brimbank City Council, 2009)

BRIMBANK HERITAGE DESIGN GUIDELINES PART 5

HO22 – Sunshine Commercial Heritage Area, Sunshine

Typical inter-war shopfronts comprised windows framed in

brass or zinc above a stallboard. The entrance was usually

recessed and either placed centrally or at one side.

Original shop verandahs were cantilevered. The fascia

(front edge) was thinner than more recent versions, giving

it a lighter feel when viewed from the street.

Conserve the early shopfronts at 5-7 Sun Crescent.

Encourage reconstruction of typical shopfronts and

verandahs as opportunities arise.

Discourage introduction of inappropriate verandahs

and post-supported verandahs.

An original inter-war shopfront with brass window framing

above a tiled stallboard (Brimbank City Council, 2009)

The upper parapets of shops were

usually rendered, sometimes with

unpainted brick detailing. In many

cases the brick detailing has been

painted and this has resulted in

a loss of architectural character.

Many of the existing shopfront

colour schemes are not appropriate

to the period.

Unpainted brick parapet and original verandah of 11 Sun Crescent

(Brimbank City Council, 2009)

Do not paint any previously unpainted materials.

Original materials should be retained and repaired, where

necessary, instead of replaced. Replacement (if necessitated by

poor condition) or restoration of original joinery elements, such as

windows and doors, should be identical to the original in form and

material.

Paint should be removed from previously unpainted surfaces by an

approved method.

For appropriate colours schemes for inter-war buildings, see the

General Guidelines.

Vehicular access, where provided, was from the rear of properties

only.

There should be no vehicle access from the front of the property.

Car parking should only be provided at the rear of buildings.

The shops in the precinct are very consistent in terms of their scale,

siting and detailing. All of the shopfronts are typically set at the

frontage and are attached. The narrow lot frontages create a regular

pattern, which is reflected in the detailing of the parapets, which are

broken up into regular bays.

The Derrimut Hotel is an important landmark and it is important that

new development does not visually dominate or detract from the

visual prominence of the Hotel.

The Derrimut Hotel and a Canary Island Palm of the same era

(Brimbank City Council, 2009)

Regular parapets above a row of single-storey shops

(Brimbank City Council, 2009)

Infill development should:

Have the same front and side setbacks as adjoining buildings,

that is, it should be built to the front and side boundaries.

Not exceed the parapet height of the two storey shops at 111-113

Durham Road at the frontage of the property.

Be consistent with the heritage buildings in terms of building

height, shopfront design, parapet height, ornamentation,

verandah height and form, window sill and lintel levels and

architrave design.

Have roofs concealed behind parapets.

Upper levels above two storeys may be considered if they are set

back from the frontage.

BRIMBANK HERITAGE DESIGN GUIDELINES PART 5

HO22 – Sunshine Commercial Heritage Area, Sunshine

Signage was traditionally in certain locations including flush against

the parapet, on visible side walls, and under verandahs, including

along the verandah fascia.

Signs can be hung beneath the front verandah and along the verandah fascia

(Brimbank City Council, 2009)

A sign on a shop parapet that fits neatly between the pilasters

(Brimbank City Council, 2009)

The Derrimut Hotel has integral signage in raised lettering set in the

rendered façade of the building. There are a number of small and

relatively discrete internally illuminated signs at the key entry points

that provide adequate identification. Because of the architectural

importance of this building further signage should be limited.

Hotel Derrimut has a range of attractive integral signage

(Brimbank City Council, 2009)

It is important to strike a balance between the needs of businesses

to have adequate exposure, and the need to ensure that new

signage does not become a dominant element that detracts from the

historic character of the area.

Generally no more than 2 signs (not including under verandah

signs) should be allowed per shop premises. The following types of

signage are appropriate:

Signs that are affixed to the front of verandahs (i.e., to the fascia)

and fit within the fascia.

For single storey shops, signs that are mounted flush to the

parapet within the panel created by the pilasters (i.e., it does not

cover the pilaster or any other detailing.)

For the double storey shop at 111 Durham Road, a horizontal

format sign between the upper floor window and the detailing to

the upper parapet OR a vertical format sign between the window

and the side pilaster.

For the double storey shop at 113 Durham Road, a vertical

format sign between the window and the side pilaster OR a wall

mounted sign on the exposed western wall.

Above verandahs, signs that project from the wall (such as V-boards)

are not appropriate.

No further signage should be permitted on the inter-war section of

the Derrimut Hotel.