Real estate firm Stonebridge Property Group and Colliers Retail Middle Markets are marketing a 10ha plot of land at the junction of Sunbury Rd and Odysseus Dr (halfway between Sunbury and Bulla) as the location of “Sunbury Town Centre”. In marketing material they refer to it as a major development with retailers Coles and Kmart already signed up.
However, the ‘town centre’ name came as a surprise to Sunbury Cllr Bell (Jacksons Hill) who is to take the matter up with council officers.
“Sunbury already has a town centre — and it always has,” he says.
Cllr Jarrod Bell.
“For more than 180 years, the heart of Sunbury has been centred around Evans Street, O’Shannassy Street, and Brook Street. That is our historic and enduring town centre.
“The decision, by the advertising agency in this case, to apply the marketing label ‘Sunbury Town Centre’ to a development 5km away from our town’s true centre is a mistake.”
Cllr Bell calls the decision to promote the future retail space as a town centre as “…misleading, confusing”, and says it does not reflect the reality of our community.
“I fully understand that as Sunbury grows additional commercial and retail hubs will emerge — and they should be named accordingly,” says Cllr Bell. “But to call this second area “Sunbury Town Centre” disregards our history and identity.”
He says he will meet with council officers this week to explore the options available to clarify or correct the name — noting it is a commercial label, not a formally recognised geographic place name.
A blue dot showing the location of a 10ha plot of land for a large retail centre.
Those reacting to the town centre branding on social media had plenty to say 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.
