Commercial real estate firm Stonebridge has reacted to disquiet over a retail park it was marketing as Sunbury Town Centre.
Following reports by Sunbury Life that Sunbury already has a town centre dating back more than 180 years, the realtor quietly changed its marketing material to call the 10ha plot of land 5km along Sunbury Rd toward Bulla as Sunbury South Town Centre.
This, despite Hume City mayor telling ABC radio that Place Names Victoria is not a fan of geographical names “…they much prefer them having unique identities…such as Water Gardens or High Point”.
Real estate firm Stonebridge Property Group and Colliers Retail Middle Markets are marketing the land at the junction of Sunbury Rd and Odysseus Dr as a major development with retailers Coles and Kmart signed up.
Cllr Jarrod Bell initially said he would meet with Hume City Council officers to explore the options available to clarify or correct the name — noting it is a commercial label, not a formally recognised geographic place name.
Those reacting to the original town centre branding had plenty to say n social media with comments including:
- Call it Sunbury Heights shopping centre, since it’s at a higher altitude than the main sunbury shops and will over look the recycling plant.
- We should be highlighting our Town Centre more (little face lift). Shame we lost the slogan “City Living, Country Style’, for those who remember.
- The town centre is going to go where the “green belt“ was – I remember the promise that Sunbury’s green belt will never be touched as they wanted to keep the rural feel. Hollow words because sadly that’s where Rosenthal was developed. History and tradition mean nothing when it comes to palms being greased.
- The original town centre should always be recognised as such. I hope council agree!
- Sunbury Town Centre has always been and should always be Evans/Brook Street areas. Anything else, despite growth and development, should be Sunbury North/South/East/West.
- Unfortunately these types of labels tend to stick especially by new residents.
Stonebridge has been approached for comment.
Before: Stonebridge website screen grab.
After… (same date – different name)
