Long-time Sunshine residents have responded to Brimbank council’s Emergency Order, issued last month, to fully demolish the former council building at 6–18 Alexandra Avenue in Sunshine.
The Emergency Order comes after a final independent engineer’s report found the building to be unserviceable and at risk of structural failure, posing a potential danger to human life.
As reported by Star Weekly, the derelict site was a magnet for criminal activity and antisocial behaviour for years.
For Brimbank residents and sisters Prue Wanders and Kym Parker (né Wanders), who grew up living next door to the site, the news is bittersweet.
“It’s got to go because of the state it’s in. It’s gone. It’s beyond. But we’ve never seen it without,” Kym said.
In 1962, Kym and Prue’s parents built their family home next to the former council building and lived there until they passed away a few years ago, cared for by their daughters.
Prue still lives near the former council building.
“It was a grouse place to grow up,” she said.
“We used to BMX ride, rollerskate and do all our skateboarding and everything.”
Kym said the suburb was a blue-chip area.
“There were no problems at all growing up. Everything was immaculate. Everything was beautiful,” she said.
The sisters had family members who worked at the building, and were friendly with council workers, street sweepers and traffic officers in the area.
“As soon as [council] shifted to Hampshire Road, it all just went downhill,” Kym said.
The current council building on Hampshire Road opened in 2016, while the former council building was sold to a private owner for more than $5.5 million in 2018.
The old building displayed a heritage-listed mural that had been left without care for years, its once bright colours faded.
Kym said more should have been done to preserve the well-loved mural.
“Why wouldn’t they have taken that beautiful thing down and incorporated it in the build up the street?” she said.
“It’s worth nothing now.”
The abandoned building also became a drawcard for criminal activity.
Prue had to dial triple-0 at least three times a week before demolition works on the building began.
“Police, fire brigade.. Every day there was something,” she said.
A Brimbank council spokesperson confirmed the essential demolition works have been completed at 6-18 Alexandra Avenue.
“Following the completion of all demolition works, there will be a further inspection by council to ensure the site is safe and compliant. For the time being, the mural is being kept at a secure location until a use is determined,” the spokesperson said.
Future plans for the site are dependent on the private owner.
Prue said she’d love to see a park built where the former council building stood.
“But it’s not going to happen and I’d hate to see what is going to happen,” she said.
“I found it emotionally hard to stay here because of losing mum and dad. I thought I was going to sell but I’ve come to grips with everything, and now I don’t know what I’m waiting for here.”
