Sunbury Community, Arts and Cultural Precinct

There is a thriving sense of community from a range of arts, theatre, heritage and community groups and 3NRG radio station. Art is created, community is entertained and informed and local history is nurtured and archived. The Sunbury Primary School, Sunbury and Macedon Ranges Specialist School and Sunbury Woodturners Group are nearby and also contribute to the sense of community.

The range of activities that could happen in the buildings in the precinct are:

Arts / Gallery

• renovated existing arts spaces
• including sculpture, pottery, painting
• new arts spaces (e.g. digital arts)
• presentation spaces
• exhibitions

Business / Tourism

• small business incubators
• café and/or restaurant
• cultural centre
• micro-brewery/winery
• small retail outlet showcasing
• locally produced works
• information hub

Events

• music festival
• cultural festivals of food, arts, music,
• farmers markets
• indoor/outdoor community events
• promotion of health through programming

Theatre/Performing Arts

• rehearsal/development space
• performance space
• space for dance classes

Community

• meeting spaces
• informal training spaces
• multi-purpose spaces/flexible over time
• civic function
• consultants spaces (visiting services)
• location for radio station
• location for heritage and historical records and displays
• location for wood work
• youth activities including music production

Public Realm

• community garden
• cycling and walking destination

The recommended approach to developing the site involves restoration works and enhancements to existing buildings, increasing their versatility and ease of use for a wide array of groups and individuals. These recommendations are based on a demand assessment, feasibility assessment, and are based on a mix of community, commercial, and tourism uses.

Firstly, there are maintenance and access issues that would need to be addressed. Over time expansion of buildings and changes are proposed to allow for increased dance and performing arts, incubator spaces for small business start-ups and artist uses, and food and beverage offerings to support the proposed tourism and commercial component of the precinct.

This site was previously owned by Victoria University (VU).  The State Government, who purchased the Jacksons Hill site in 2018 from Victoria University (VU), developed a masterplan to guide the re-purposing of the former university campus.

The masterplan involves the redevelopment and use of four buildings below, and divides the area up into different precincts for a range of uses including residential development, commercial activity, education and training as well as arts and culture:

• Building 18 Bluestone Building
• Building 19 Radio Station
• Building 20 Boilerhouse Arts Centre
• Building 21 Shed

Complex planning processes involving heritage and conservation have created delays in the State Government transferring the four buildings to Council (this transfer has not taken place yet).

However, in October 2022, a new opportunity came along, where Council was able to secure a long-term lease with the State Government for a near-by parcel of land which houses two buildings including the heritage-listed former Female Refractory Ward (or Building 22).

This opportunity has enabled Council to re-ignite the project and start to plan and develop Stage 1 of the Sunbury Community, Arts and Cultural Precinct on Jacksons Hill.

The estimated cost to develop this long term vision is $8.5 million.

Council will need to work with Government and other partners to attract funding for the redevelopment. Council wants to build on the energy and guidance of the Community Advisory Group (CAG) and find interim means to support and enhance the precinct in its current form.