Brimbank has been home to more than a few famous faces, with many taking to the sporting fields. We take a look at some of the people and movies that helped put Brimbank on the map.
Keith Miller
The great Australian all-rounder was born at the family home at 29 Benjamin Street, Sunshine. He spent his younger years in Sunshine playing both football and cricket in the area before moving away. Miller would become one of Australia’s greatest all-rounders, playing 55 test matches for Australia, while also playing 50 games for St Kilda in the then Victorian Football League.
Hugo McKay
Even today, the memory of Hugo McKay is still for all to see in Sunshine. He acquired the Braybrook Implement Works in the early 1900s and renamed it the Sunshine Harvester Works after his Sunshine Harvester, one of his major products. In 1907, the residents of Braybrook Junction voted to rename the suburb Sunshine. The plant at its peak employed nearly 3000 workers and was the biggest factory in Australia. The Sunshine Gardens which were created to give workers somewhere to go, were later renamed the H.V. McKay Memorial Gardens, which still stand today.
Leigh Bowery
Bowery was an Australian performance artist, club promoter, and fashion designer. Bowery was known for his flamboyant and outlandish costumes and makeup as well as his (sometimes controversial) performances. Based in London for much of his adult life, he was a significant model and muse for the English painter Lucian Freud. The Bowery Theatre in St Albans is named after him.
Mark Viduka
Australia soccer legend Mark Viduka played in the Knights’ junior section until the age of 16 where he was promoted into the youth team. The 1993-94 season was a breakout season for Viduka who won the first of his two NSL Player of the Year titles in 1993-94. In 1994-95 the Knights and Viduka swept everything in front of them, with Viduka winning the Sam Papasavas Medal, Johnny Warren Medal and the leading goal scorer award. At the end of the season Viduka was sold to Croatian First League giants Dinamo Zagreb and then went on to have a long national career, playing 47 games for Australia including captaining them.
Other famous residents
John Flynn- Flynn founded the Royal Flying Doctor Service and is featured on the current Australian twenty-dollar note. He spent much of his childhood in Sunshine.
Bon Scott- The ACDC front frontman lived in Sunshine after his family moved to Australia from Scotland. He attended Sunshine Primary School before moving to Fremantle.
Lester Ellis- The former world champion boxer grew up in West Sunshine.
Craig Parry- One of Australia’s premier golfers, Parry was born in Sunshine.
Lydia Lassila- The Olympic winter gold medallist grew up in Sunshine and went to school in the area.
