Zoe Moffatt
Sunbury Asylum Alliance is calling for a decision on the asylum’s future as it enters its 10th year of fighting for it to become a premium tourist and community hub.
The alliance has been fighting for the asylum to become a tourist hub since about October 2013 after Victoria University and other occupants left the site.
Alliance co-founder Alison Cunningham said she used to go for walks past the asylum with friend and fellow founder Julie Davenport.
“We were like, imagine what this could be,” Ms Cunningham said.
“[After having] lunch down at the Abbotsford [convent, we thought]… wouldn’t it be wonderful if it had something like this.”
Ms Cunningham said they found out Victoria University owned the site and they wanted to make sure it was not sold to developers.
“We were just like no, we’re going to make sure it doesn’t ever get sold to developers … it’s got far too much potential,” she said.
“We devised a plan… and in 2016 we did a petition to the government… our idea was for the government to buy it back because you can’t lobby a private owner.
“We’re at this point now [where we are] contacting people and trying to get it up and running.
“[We are] sticking it out, only because we believe in it, we believe it can be this fabulous place.”
Ms Cunningham said they have had people interested in investing over the years but without a lease or security of tenure, people will not put money in.
“The one thing that we are absolutely certain of and… that 99.9 per cent of people in Sunbury agreed on, was no housing.”
With a masterplan for the site commissioned in 2018, Ms Cunningham said they are hopeful they can see some progress within the next year.
“I can’t imagine it being anything else except this fabulous place where people can come and go to events and have their wedding or have a party, or eat there or just hang out.”
“Have a picnic on the lawn on a Sunday, bring the dogs for a walk with the kids.”
