Australia’s first Vietnamese cultural centre and museum reached a major construction milestone this month after concrete was poured for the museum’s roof.
Multicultural Affairs Minister Ingrid Stitt and St Albans MP Natalie Suleyman visited the project site in Sunshine to mark the occasion.
The state government said the roof concrete pour occurred two weeks earlier than originally planned.
Practical completion of the building is scheduled for March next year, with the museum expected to open later in 2026 following the installation of galleries and exhibitions.
The Vietnamese Museum Australia (VMA) Board has confirmed the museum will adopt a new trading name – Vietnamese Refugee Museum Australia – which it said will better reflect its purpose of preserving and sharing the stories of Vietnamese refugees and their families.
According to the state government, the new name follows extensive consultation with community and faith leaders across Australia, with the museum to showcase the richness of Vietnamese culture while honouring the past, engaging with the present and inspiring future generations.
The project will provide a dedicated space for exhibitions, education and community events.
Once complete, the museum will join the Multicultural Museums Victoria network.
There are more than 120,000 Victorians of Vietnamese heritage, including more than 93,000 born in Vietnam – making it the fifth largest overseas-born community in the state, according to the state government.
