Hume City Council is moving to restore and showcase the city’s wartime and civic history that’s currently stored – and almost forgotten – in Sunbury.
A motion tabled by Cllr Naim Kurt during a council meeting on Monday 12 May called for the return of several historic honour boards to public view, including the Shire of Broadmeadows World War I honour board, which commemorates soldiers who served and died in the Great War.
The honour board was originally housed in the former Broadmeadows municipal building, then moved to the Broadmeadows’ Global Learning Centre (GLC) in the 2000s.
However, after parts of the town’s GLC were leased to The Orange Door in 2020, the board was placed in storage at the council’s Sunbury depot along with the former George Evans Museum‘s collection of 10,000-plus items.
During Monday’s meeting Cllr Kurt said the Broadmeadows’ honour board should have been reinstated as part of the new Hume Council Chambers’ civic display.
His notice of motion stated: “Unfortunately, it has not yet been installed or made publicly accessible.
“Through discussions with council officers I have been advised that several historic honour boards, including the Shire of Broadmeadows World War I Honour Board, the original City of Broadmeadows Mayoral Honour Board, and the Broadmeadows Roads District Honour Board – are now being stored at council’s Sunbury depot.”
He called for a full audit of Hume’s civic collection, including mayoral portraits, historic documents, and public artworks.
Cllr Kurt’s request also suggested exploring a digital archive or history book, as well as expanding the civic collection to reflect the city’s modern history.
Cllr Steve Gagen said he wasn’t aware of the board or that other memorabilia were ‘squirrelled away’ and said important historical items need to be stored carefully ‘in a controlled atmosphere’ to avoid them being damaged.
“Sometimes new people come along see what they think is rubbish and chuck it out,” he said.
Cllr Kurt’s notice of motion garnered full support from councillors.
Council staff will now prepare a report to provide councillors with an update on the location and condition of the honour boards. The report will include options for the restoration of items as well as recommendations on opportunities for increased public display and access.
See Readers’ Write.
Below: watch the debate on notice of motion 9.4.
A reader writes:
John Callaghan writes about the George Evans Museum following our report on a council plan to reinstate WWI Honour Boards.
Friday 16 May 2025: It’s interesting to see an article headed WWI honour boards to be dusted off for public display.
The article reported on a notice of motion tabled by Cllr Kurt at the Hume Council meeting on Monday 12 May, calling for the return of several historic honour boards to public view.
He goes on about the council doing more for the history of the four (?) former Shires that make up Hume. However, he only appears interested in the Broadmeadows Honour Board.
Cllr Steve Gagen said he wasn’t aware of the board or that other memorabilia were ‘squirrelled away’ as he was a new councillor (as are a majority). He said important historical items need to be stored carefully ‘in a controlled atmosphere’ to avoid them being damaged.
So I ask what is more important than our George Evans Museum‘s collection of 10,000-plus items?
I believe they’ve got it all wrong and the Sunbury community as a whole, needs to let all the Hume councillors know that we want the George Evans Museum reopened in its own space, not just a few glass cabinets in the GLC and leaving the other items to rot and decay at the Sunbury depot.
This is an absolute disgrace and an insult to present and past residents, and we all need to do something about it by contacting all the councillors, especially our local mayor Jarrod Bell and demand the George Evans Museum be reopened.
