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Sunshine Municipal Offices

Location Alexandra Avenue, SUNSHINE VIC 3020 - Property No 108 File Number 1558 Level Included in Heritage Overlay

[1/3] 1558 - Brimbank City Council [2/3] Sunshine.JPG [3/3] Site 108 - SUnshine Municiple

Statement of Significance

These substantial municipal buildings are of historical, social and architectural significance at the local level. Historically the building represents the economic and political maturation of the City of Sunshine as a consequence of the post war boom. It is of architectural significance for the distinctive building form, and in particular, the dramatic stained glass mural panel to the Council antechamber, which is expressed in the design as a major projecting volume over the main entrance and driveway portico.

The building is of social and historical significance as an expression and symbol of the expansion of a rapidly-growing district at a time (the 1960s) when large numbers of migrant settlers were arriving and the municipality of Sunshine was becoming one of the largest in Victoria in terms of population.

The modern sun motif on the mural wall, which is the main feature of the building, has links with the name of Sunshine and the symbol which was used on the thousands of Sunshine Harvester Works and other manufacturers' products over many decades. As such, it relates historically to the origin of the suburb as the company town for H.V. McKay's Sunshine Harvester Works.

The building is also significant as the work of Melbourne architect, G. Stuart Warmington, who also has a link with Sunshine's early history, since his family came to live on McKay's Sunshine estate in its first decade of development. The building is also of interest for the emphasis given to the use of local manufacturers and builders in its fabrication and construction.

The significant elements are confined to the original 1960s structures and associated landscaping, but do not include the later additions to the east.

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