Sunbury’s storytelling streets

Sunbury Family History and Heritage Society treasurer Trevor Dunn with the new historical street sign on Vaughan Street, Sunbury. (Damjan Janevski) 317528_01

You’re not imagining things if you’re wondering why some of Sunbury’s street signs have turned a vibrant shade of green.

Or why there’s small writing under the recognisable Station or Vaughan streets highlighting little tidbits of history.

It’s the culmination of a project between the former Sunbury and District Heritage Association – now called the Sunbury Family History and Heritage Society (SFHHS) – and Hume council: to see historical street signs rolled out across town.

SFHHS treasurer Trevor Dunn said the signs were a fantastic achievement.

“I think it’s a big win for informing the Sunbury citizens, particularly the young ones and even some of the oldies. I wasn’t aware of who all the street signs were named after,” Mr Dunn said.

“It’s a district with a lot of history to it, with the asylum, the trains, Rupertswood – we’ve got a lot of history and heritage in this town.”

Rosa McCall, SFHHS secretary, said it was while members of the society were travelling through other local council areas that they’d been inspired to make the new street signs a project covering 29 streets in town.

After finishing their research, and limiting the word count on each sign to 20 words, drafts were presented to Hume council.

Hume was on board, and despite delays caused by COVID-19, the project was finally approved last year.

“Now they are displayed in the town in all their ‘green and silver’ glory, we are eagerly awaiting feedback from residents,” Ms McCall said.

“It is with a feeling of great satisfaction that we know our members were instrumental in instigating this project and witnessing its conclusion.”

Elsie Lange