About the centre

Planning is underway to build a new multipurpose community centre in the Olivine Estate in Donnybrook. The centre will include a two-room kindergarten, maternal and child health services, a library hub, a community hall and kitchen, and flexible spaces for hire.

Construction of the centre is expected to start late 2023, with the facility up-and-running in 2025.

Conveniently located next to Donnybrook Primary School, the centre will be designed to complement the existing Olivine Place facility and to provide community programs and essential services to support our City’s booming population.

Murnong Community Centre

The City of Whittlesea is proposing to name the future community centre at 183 Olivine Boulevard in Donnybrook ‘Murnong Community Centre’. Murnong means ‘yam daisy’ in the Woi Wurrung language of the Wurundjeri people.
  • Murnong origins

    Murnong is reflective of the indigenous flora found in the landscape of Donnybrook and its surrounds. The roots of murnong plants were an important traditional food source for many Aboriginal people.

    The name ‘Murnong Community Centre’ was the most popular choice among respondents of our community engagement in April 2022.

Have your say

In accordance with the Naming Rules for Places in Victoria 2022, you are invited to provide feedback on the proposed name ‘Murnong Community Centre'. Submissions must be received by 5pm on Monday, 1 May 2023 via:

  • Complete the online form below
  • Email: communityinfrastructure@whittlesea.vic.gov.au
  • Post: Community Infrastructure Coordinator, Strategic Projects, City of Whittlesea, Locked Bag 1, Bundoora MDC VIC 3083
  • Phone: 03 9217 2153

Your feedback should include whether you are supportive of or opposed to naming the facility 'Murnong Community Centre' and address the naming principles outlined below.

Let us know if you are supportive of or opposed to the proposed name 'Murnong Community Centre'

If you object to the proposed name, please explain why you believe the name does not comply with any of the principles identified in the Naming Rules for Places in Victoria:

  • Ensuring public safety
  • Recognising the public interest
  • Linking the name to place
  • Ensuring names are not duplicated
  • Recognition and use of Traditional Owner languages
  • Names must not discriminate or be offensive
  • Gender equality
  • Dual names (Australian states and territories use dual names as a way of recognising the names given to places by different enduring cultural and language groups)
  • Using commemorative names
  • Using commercial and business names is not allowed
  • Language (names should be easy to pronounce. Prefixes, symbols, punctuation marks and abbreviations are not allowed)
  • Directional names to be avoided
  • Assigning extent to a road, feature or locality (Council must clearly define the area and/or extent to which the name will apply)

For more information about the Naming Rules for Places in Victoria, visit the Department of Transport and Planning website: www.land.vic.gov.au/place-naming

If you lodge an objection, Council will respond in writing to notify you of the outcome of the public consultation.

If you would like to make a submission it should be in writing and in English, unless this unreasonably prevents or hinders you from participating. If you are unable to provide your submission in writing and/or in English and there are any adjustments we can make to assist you to make a submission, please contact Council on 9217 2110 to discuss how you can submit an objection.

If you do not speak English, we offer a telephone interpreter service to help you communicate with us. The free service is available by calling 131 450.

If you have a hearing or speech impairment, you may use the National Relay Service. The free service is available by calling 133 677 (ask for 9217 2170).

To protect our communities, proposed names must not duplicate another name within a locality, irrespective of council boundaries. Duplicates are considered to be two (or more) names within close proximity, or names that are identical or have similar spelling or pronunciation.

In alignment with the Naming Rules for Places in Victoria 2022, the City of Whittlesea has considered similarly named venues to the proposed Murnong Community Centre, including Murnong Clinic Community Mental Health Centre in Ringwood East, Murnong Reserve in Torquay, and Marnong Estate in Mickelham.

As each venue is more than 5km from the future in community centre in Donnybrook and serve different functions, there are no anticipated issues with seeking approval for the name 'Murnong Community Centre' from Geographic Names Victoria.

When choosing a name for a new facility, Council is required to comply with the Naming Rules for Places in Victoria 2022 and Council's Naming Policy for Features, which is why some of the suggestions we received as part of phase 1 of community consultation could not proceed further.

Outlined below are the reasons that some of the submitted names could not be further considered.

Donnybrook Community Centre – As there are going to be five community centres in Donnybrook in the future, this name was removed from contention to avoid confusion.

Cooinda Community Centre – As the future community centre will be on Wurundjeri land, a name from the Woi Wurrung language of the Wurundjeri people is preferred. 'Cooinda', meaning 'happy place' is not from the Woi Wurrung language.

Mosaic Community Centre – Council has an existing facility in Lalor called Mosaic Recreation Reserve and Mosaic Community Pavilion.

Wilam Centre – This name was deemed too similar to Council’s existing centre, Bubup Wilam Aboriginal Child and Family Centre in Thomastown.

Murnong Daisies - Murnong means ‘yam daisy’ in the Woi Wurrung language of the Wurundjeri people. Murnong Daisies would therefore translate to 'Yam Daisy Daisies'.