By Tate Papworth
The rich heritage of Sunshine will be on full display when Sunshine Marketplace celebrates its 20th birthday this week.
The mall is situated on one of the most historic sites in Brimbank – having been first developed as the Harvester Works, the largest manufacturing plant in Australia, in 1904.
In 1998 the much-loved local hub took its current form as a shopping centre.
The Marketplace still has the largest Village Cinema complex in Victoria.
Centre manager Mark Hallowell said it was important to pay homage to the site’s history.
“Sometimes you don’t really think of a suburb as having a history, but Sunshine has an incredible history and we’re very proud to have such a strong link to the past,” he said.
“We’re really proud to be part of the Sunshine community and to celebrate the diversity and vibrancy that our part of Melbourne has to offer.”
To mark the occasion, staff at the Marketplace are planning a three-day celebration.
The festivities begin on Thursday, embracing the heritage of the site and marking each of the milestones over those two decades.
“We’re really looking forward to three days of family entertainment to bring the Sunshine community together to celebrate their local centre, Sunshine Marketplace,” Mr Hallowell said.
Activities will include a history walk, a handball competition, a Wild Action stage show, a breakdance workshop, face-painting and a photo booth.
Details: www.sunshinemarketplace.com.au
