Brimbank City Council has celebrated the opening of the Vietnamese Museum Australia (VMA) in Sunshine, a facility dedicated to preserving the rich and vibrant cultural heritage of the Vietnamese community in Australia.
The museum was officially opened on Saturday by Museum CEO, Tammy Nguyen along with Victorian Premier, Ben Carroll; Federal Member for Fraser, Daniel Mulino and Brimbank Mayor, Virginia Tachos.
The VMA was jointly funded through $9.7 million from the Australian Government, through its Investing in Our Communities Program and $8.6 million from the Victorian Government, along with community fundraising.
“Brimbank is proudly home to one of the Australia’s largest Vietnamese communities, with people of Vietnamese heritage making up around 17 per cent of our population,” said Mayor Tachos.
“Our vibrant Vietnamese community brings so much energy, culture and life to our city, so it’s only fitting their culture is going to be celebrated right in the heart of Sunshine at this milestone museum.”
Museum CEO, Tammy Nguyen said the new museum was “a living monument to all those who courageously left their homeland behind”.
“Often as refugees on overcrowded and unseaworthy boats – seeking freedom and a better future,” she said.
“There are more than 350,000 people of Vietnamese-origin living in Australia and everyone has their own unique story to tell.
“By continuing to share our history, our traditions and our stories, the legacy of Vietnamese people to Australia and our way of life will continue to live on for many generations to come.”
Alongside the museum, Council also cut the ribbon on Wominjeka Plaza, a welcoming public space for everyone to enjoy, that honours the Traditional Owners and celebrates all refugee and multicultural communities in Brimbank. The plaza serves as a forecourt to the museum, and a connection between RT Pollard Gardens and Durham Road, Sunshine.
Council designed, funded and developed the plaza with input from Traditional Owners from the Wurundjeri Council, multicultural groups and Brimbank Youth Council.
“Together with the new Wominjeka Plaza, which celebrates the Traditional Owners and Brimbank’s multiculturalism, this precinct creates a welcoming place for people to gather, connect and celebrate the rich diversity that makes Brimbank such a vibrant and inclusive community,” said Mayor Tachos.
The museum is located at 119 Durham Street, Sunshine.
