New centre set to serve growing community

A young Donnybrook family is counting down the days until the Murnong Community Centre opens its doors and provides the growing suburb with easy access to a range of vital services.

Beth and Ryan Wilson, who live just a short walk from the centre’s Olivine Boulevard location, were excited to see construction begin in mid-May.

The $11.4 million community centre, the first one to be built in Donnybrook, will provide a range of important services catering to residents of all ages, including a three and four-year-old kindergarten program, Maternal and Child Health Services and mini-branch library.

Organisations, community groups and residents will be able to hold events or run programs out of the centre’s large community hall and multi-purpose activity rooms.

There will also be a Changing Places facility to support people with high care needs and an accessible public toilet available seven days a week.

“The Murnong Community Centre will provide interactive programs for people of all ages, as well as family and childhood support.” – Administrator Christian Zahra AM

“I think the library will be a massive one for us,” Beth said. “Currently there is nothing close by unless you go to Beveridge.

City of Whittlesea Administrator Christian Zahra AM said the centre, which is expected to open in early 2026, will reduce the need for residents to travel to access key services.

The City of Whittlesea is contributing more than $4 million to the project, with the Victorian Government providing additional funds via:

• $4.5 million from the Victorian School Building Authority
• $2 million from the 2021–22 Growing Suburbs Fund
• $709,500 from the Living Libraries Infrastructure Program 2021–22
• $180,000 from the Changing Places Funding Round 2023.

For more information, visit Murning Community Centre page.