By Benjamin Millar
Australia’s first museum dedicated to Vietnamese culture is one step closer to being built in Footscray following a $4.45 million pledge from the Federal Labor Party.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has promised to match the Victorian government’s $4.45 million towards construction of the nation’s first Vietnamese Cultural Centre and Museum.
Mr Shorten made the pledge during a Lunar New Year flag-raising ceremony held at Footscray Town Hall to welcome the Year of the Pig.
He said the $20 million museum would become a home for the nearly 300,000-strong Vietnamese community to collect, preserve and exhibit their culture and history.
“The museum has been a long-term goal for the Victorian chapter of the Vietnamese community in Australia and will contain interactive exhibits to share stories that will provide a unique insight into the ongoing journey of the Vietnamese community in Australia,” he said.
“These are stories of sacrifice to give their children a better shot at life, long hours and hard work to grow small businesses and educate the next generation.”
Mr Shorten said Footscray was the ideal site for the project, as the bedrock of the Australians of Vietnamese background since settlement.
The centre is likely to be built on a Donald Street site currently used as a public carpark.
It is due to be open in 2025, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the settlement of Vietnamese refugees in Australia.
Footscray resident Ken Betts criticised Mr Shorten for promising public money to the project and questioned Maribyrnong council’s decision to raise the yellow Co Vang flag of the former South Vietnam on its flag pole.
However Viv Nguyen, president of the Victorian chapter of Vietnamese Community in Australia, argued the flag is an important means of celebrating the contribution of the Vietnamese diaspora in Australia.
