SUNSHINE STATION RECEIVES

$63.5 MILLION FUNDING PLEDGE

Brimbank City Council has welcomed a long-awaited announcement regarding

the rebuild of Sunshine Station, following a joint investment by the state and

federal governments. In early October 2024, both levels of government pledged

$63.5 million to begin plans to transform Sunshine Station into a major transport

superhub. This funding supplements the Victorian Government’s $143 million

Sunshine Station Precinct Masterplan, which includes a new bus interchange and

improved pedestrian connections.

The Sunshine Precinct holds national significance, is listed on Infrastructure Australia’s

priority projects, and is the only site in Melbourne designated as a Metropolitan Activity

Centre, a National Employment and Innovation Centre, and a Transport Super Hub. The

redevelopment aligns with the community vision outlined in Brimbank City Council’s

Sunshine Priority Precinct Vision 2050 and the State Government’s 2022 Sunshine

Station Masterplan.

The redevelopment of Sunshine Station is part of the Melbourne Airport Rail project,

and will also facilitate the development of the surrounding Sunshine Precinct, Albion

Station, and the Albion Quarter. These initiatives are expected to create nearly 30,000

jobs, attract over 40,000 new residents, and increase housing supply in Melbourne’s

west. The project will enhance the station’s infrastructure while fostering greater

business investment and community connectivity.

REVITALISING

OUR TOWN

CENTRE

BRIMBANK.VIC.GOV.AU

SUNSHINE

RISING

ISSUE 52, SUMMER EDITION 2025

INSIDE

THIS ISSUE

•

Sunshine Station Receives

$63.5 Million Funding Pledge

•

Shine a Light -

The Granary Cafe

•

Bright Futures: New

Developments in Sunshine

•

Special Rate Update

by Sunshine Buinsess

Association’s President,

Mr Vu Du Sunshine Place

•

Sunshine Place

Manager Update

BRIGHT FUTURES:

NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN SUNSHINE

The newly opened Puntill Apartment

Hotel, located at 99 Derby Road

in Sunshine’s southern CBD, is a

modern addition to the area. It blends

contemporary hospitality with a nod to

its industrial past. Just 500 meters from

the Sunshine Train Station, this six-story

hotel offers 90 apartments ranging

from 23 to 64 square meters, providing

convenient, stylish accommodation for

both locals and visitors.

The site has a rich history and was

once home to the Drayton Brothers

Pottery, established in 1916. Known for

manufacturing railway cups and saucers,

the pottery business employed 330

workers and played a key role in the

local community before closing in 1963.

The Puntill Hotel now revitalizes this

historic location, preserving the area’s

legacy and providing modern amenities.

Designed by MAP Architects, the hotel

incorporates sustainable features like

solar panels, rainwater harvesting, and

energy-efficient glazing. With smart

TVs, electric car charging stations, and

conferencing facilities, Puntill Hotel

combines luxury, convenience, and a

deep respect for Sunshine’s heritage.

For enquires go to: https://punthill.

com.au/hotels/punthill-sunshine/

The next chapter in the Sunshine

Activity Centre’s transformation is

marked by Council’s approval of a

range of planning permits across the

centre which are collectively valued

at approximately $640 million in

development. These projects include

plans for around 3,200 new dwellings

and 174,000 square meters of retail,

office, hotel, and mixed-use space.

Of note, a planning permit has been

granted for a 5-storey office building at

330–334 Hampshire and 1–5 Hertford

Road, Sunshine. This $28.6 million

development will provide over 6,500

sqm of office space, along with onsite

car parking.

While much of the construction is

yet to begin, the potential for these

projects to reshape the area keeps

the story of Sunshine’s evolution in

constant motion.

MEET YOUR NEW MAYOR AND COUNCILLORS

Cr Thuy Dang is the new Brimbank

Mayor after being elected by her fellow

Councillors at a Council Meeting on 20

November 2024.

This is Cr Dang’s first time as Mayor and

her term runs for 12 months. She had

previously been elected to Council in 2020

and had served as Deputy Mayor in 2022.

Cr Victoria Borg was elected Deputy

Mayor. She had previously been elected

to Council in 2016 and 2020. This is her

first time as Deputy Mayor.

The newly elected Brimbank Council

was sworn in for a four-year term

on 13 November 2024.

The new Brimbank Council comprises:

Albanvale Ward

– Cr Victoria Borg;

Cherry Creek Ward

– Cr Kim Thien Truong;

Copernicus Ward

– Cr Maria Kerr;

Delahey Ward

– Cr Katharine Nikolic;

Grasslands Ward

– Cr Thuy Dang;

Harvester Ward

– Cr Daniel Kruk;

Horseshoe Bend Ward

– Cr Virginia Tachos;

Kororoit Creek Ward

– Cr Lucy Nguyen;

Mount Derrimut Ward

– Cr Joh Bauch;

Organ Pipes Ward

– Cr Ranka Rasic;

St Albans East Ward

– Cr Duyen Anh Pham.

For more information on Brimbank’s new

Council visit

www.brimbank.vic.gov.au

SUNSHINE

RISING

SHINE A

LIGHT ON THE

GRANARY

CAFÉ

In this edition, we highlight The

Granary Café, a cherished landmark in

Sunshine’s café scene. Situated in the

historic H.V. McKay Administration

building on Devonshire Road, Granary

Café has become a beloved spot

for locals and visitors alike. Opened

in 2007, the café has undergone

three renovations, each enhancing

its charm while maintaining the

building’s historic integrity. Before

Granary Café’s arrival, the space

was underused. It is now a vibrant

community hub. Business owner,

Tom, shares, “We wanted to breathe

new life into this building and create a

place where people could connect.”

The café’s name reflects its dedication

to fresh, wholesome food, nourishing

both body and community. Known

for signature dishes like the Breakfast

Harvester and the Reaper, Granary

Café is a popular choice for business

meetings, parents’ groups, and casual

diners. Over the years, the café has

hosted several prominent visitors,

including three prime ministers, and

local historian and author, Owen Ford.

Beyond food, Granary Café actively

supports the community, sponsoring

local sports and displaying artwork

from Sunshine’s schools. Looking

ahead, Tom envisions expanding the

menu and hosting more community

events, ensuring Granary Café

remains a hub for food, culture and

connection for years to come.

SPECIAL RATE UPDATE

BY SUNSHINE BUSINESS

ASSOCIATION’S PRESIDENT,

MR VU DU

As President of the Sunshine Business

Association (SBA), I’m proud to share

a summary of how the SBA has been

using the Special Rate proceeds

provided by Council to fund our

marketing and business development

program over the past few months.

After another successful Business

Awards which we delivered in

August 2024, the Sunshine Business

Association (SBA) supported the

Vietnamese Museum Australia in

hosting its inaugural Autumn Lantern

Festival at R.T. Pollard Gardens in

September 2024. This vibrant event

celebrated Vietnamese culture and

raised funds for the new museum

adjacent to the gardens. Then, in

November, we held our AGM and

Christmas Business Networking Event

at Dum Matka Indian Restaurant in City

Place, Sunshine.

We are currently working on the

upcoming Sunshine Lunar New Year

Festival, taking place on Sunday, 26

January, from 12 pm to 10 pm in the

heart of the Sunshine Town Centre.

This year’s festival will feature live

entertainment, red pocket giveways,

Lion and Dragon Dancing, indoor and

outdoor dining options, children’s rides,

and market stalls with activities for

all ages. It’s a fantastic opportunity

for the community to come together

and celebrate the Lunar New Year and

showcase all that the Sunshine CBD

has to offer.

In the weeks leading up to the festival,

be sure to explore the colourful streets

of Sunshine, where local businesses will

display festive decorations, flowers,

and traditional foods. Supporting these

businesses during this festive period

is a wonderful way to engage with our

community.

After the Lunar New Year celebrations,

our focus shifts to the Sunshine Street

Food and Taste Tours, which is part of

the 2025 Melbourne Food and Wine

Festival, and is supported by the SBA.

Two evening events are scheduled for

Wednesday, 26 March, and Thursday,

27 March, from 6-8.30pm. The tour

starts at MB Lynch Memorial Gardens

and spans just under 1km through

Sunshine’s vibrant culinary hub where

visitors can enjoy a variety of delicious

flavours, from Afghan food to Korean

BBQ and Thai desserts, plus visit NC

Food for dry-aged meats. Each tour

includes a foodie guide and pre-event

entertainment.

Tickets are available on Eventbrite at

$100.00 (plus GST and booking fee) per

person.

If you would like to be part of our

fabulous committee or be involved in

any of our programs please contact me

(Vu Du) on 0402 844 279 or Vu.Du@

aussie.com.au

To find out more about the SBA’s

events and business support programs

visit or follow:

BRIMBANK.VIC.GOV.AU

BRIMBANK.VIC.GOV.AU

Telephone

9249 4000

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Have you seen the stunning projections

on the Dai Phat building on Hampshire

Road? These captivating artworks

have been created as part of a series

of projections, showcasing local and

cultural stories.

From July to September 2024,

Teena Moffat, a proud Yorta Yorta,

Gunaikurnai, and Gunditjmara woman,

presented her artwork “Pieces of Me”

for NAIDOC Week. The projection

reflected her powerful connection to

country and heritage.

For the October to December period,

artists Vincenza Fazzalori and Lee Agius

unveiled “Secundum Artem - According

to Best Practice”. This selection of

artworks, created in the context of art

therapy and community participation,

highlights the therapeutic power of art

and its role in skill development and

social engagement.

Looking ahead, the summer projections

will feature “trước nhà con (at the

front of my house)”, a multimedia piece

by Liên Ta. This beautiful projection

combines poetry, photography, stop

motion animation, digital animation, and

language to tell a touching familial love

story—a story many immigrant parents

and their children will recognize.

Be sure to check out these unique

projections as they bring art, culture,

and personal stories to life on

Hampshire Road every night after dark.

Christmas deLights returned for its

third year at the Civic Green and the

Sunshine Library on the last Friday

of November. Hundreds of children—

and some big kids too—enjoyed free

Christmas activities, music,

and entertainment.

The Christmas lights in the Library

windows were a highlight, with visitors

snapping selfies under the mistletoe and

posing with reindeer ear props. It was

a fantastic way to kick off the festive

season!

In addition, you may have noticed the

festive spirit throughout the Sunshine

Town Centre, with beautiful Christmas

wreaths, chalk art, roving performers,

and festive bin covers adding to the

holiday cheer.

To report issues like graffiti or dumped

rubbish, you can contact the Council

online through this link:

https://www.

brimbank.vic.gov.au/connect-us/

report-nuisance

.

If you suspect illegal activity, please

report it to the police. In case of an

emergency, call

.

For non-urgent incidents, you can

contact the police on

.

SUNSHINE PLACE MANAGER UPDATE