Donnybrook to celebrate opening of landmark community centre
Published on 16 February 2026
Residents are invited to mark a major milestone in Donnybrook’s history with the official opening of the murnong Community Centre on Saturday 21 February.
The City of Whittlesea is holding a community opening event from 9am to 11am and is encouraging residents to come along and join in the fun.
The $11.4 million facility, located at 183W Olivine Boulevard, will deliver a range of essential community services to residents of the growing suburb.
The centre includes a mini-branch library offering access to an extensive catalogue of books and digital resources, along with free Wi-Fi and flexible spaces for people to work and study in a warm, welcoming environment.
Parents will enjoy the convenience of accessing Maternal and Child Health Services from two consultation suites, and two purpose-built kindergarten rooms will help meet the demand for three- and four-year-old kindergarten services.
Organisations and groups will be able to hire spaces, including the large community hall and multipurpose activity rooms, to hold events or programs.
The community centre has a Changing Places facility and accessible public toilets to ensure the needs of people of all ages and abilities are met.
Environmental sustainability was a key focus during construction, with the centre featuring solar panels, a water tank, double-glazed windows and other energy-efficient materials, and the planting of Indigenous plants specific to the area to support local biodiversity.
The centre also features two new public artworks to add vibrancy and connect with the history of the area.
Wurundjeri artist Lewis Wandin-Bursill created an artwork comprising four burnt timber panels that tell a story of the murnong (yam daisy) as a vital staple food for the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung People.
The second piece, by artists Lucy Lucy and Katira, is a painted mural celebrating culture, connection and creativity and reflects the centre’s role as a welcoming place for all.
The event on Saturday 21 February will include a smoking ceremony and ribbon cutting followed by performances from community groups, children’s activities including face painting, information on local services and free coffee and icy poles.
Construction of the murnong Community Centre was supported by grants from the Victorian Government, including $4.5 million from the Building Blocks Capital Grants Program, $2 million from the Growing Suburbs Fund, $709,500 from the Living Libraries Infrastructure Program and $180,000 from the Changing Places Program.
Quotes attributable to City of Whittlesea Mayor, Councillor Lawrie Cox:
“The murnong Community Centre will provide residents with many of the support services they need from birth through to their senior years.
“Having this centre close to home will reduce the need for residents of the growing Donnybrook community to travel long distances to access essential community services.
“The centre is the culmination of years of thoughtful planning, design and construction and I would like to thank all those involved for their hard work and dedication.
“I would also like to thank the Victorian Government for its significant funding contributions across a number of programs. Without this support a community centre of this quality would not be possible.”