murnong Community Centre in Donnybrook

Project typeCommunity centre
Project value$11.4 million
Project scheduleOfficial opening on 21 February 2026

A welcome addition for a growing community

A new $11.4 million community centre has been completed for Donnybrook, with the multipurpose facility delivering essential services to the fast-growing community.

Donnybrook’s population is expected to grow substantially in the coming years, with the number of residents predicted to increase from just 5210 in 2023 to more than 48,123 by 2041.

Council is planning ahead to deliver the infrastructure and services residents need, close to home.

Project overview

Construction of the murnong Community Centre, located in the Olivine Estate, is complete and soon the facility will start delivering essential community services to the Donnybrook community.

The centre includes a mini-branch library giving residents access to Yarra Plenty Regional Library’s extensive catalogue, as well as free Wi-Fi and flexible spaces to work, study, connect and relax.

Community groups and residents will be able to hold events or programs in either a large community hall, or one of the multipurpose rooms.

Two kindergarten rooms will help meet the need for three and four-year-old kinder, while Maternal and Child Health Services will be delivered from two consultation suites.

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.

Opening

The City of Whittlesea is hosting an event to celebrate the community centre’s opening on 21 February 2026 from 9am.

Find more information on murnong Community Centre Open Day

Project timing

Construction of the murnong Community Centre is complete and it will open to the public on Saturday 21 February 2026.

Turning the first sod

A major milestone was reached on 27 March 2024 with the ceremonial turning of the first sod on the murnong Community Centre.

City of Whittlesea CEO, Craig Lloyd, joined Member for Yan Yean, Lauren Kathage to mark the occasion.

"The murnong Community Centre will be an accessible and inclusive facility providing residents with the support services they need from birth through to their senior years," said City of Whittlesea Chair Administrator Lydia Wilson. "Having this centre close to home will reduce the need for Donnybrook residents to travel long distances to access essential community services."

Sustainability measures

The murnong Community Centre will feature a number of sustainability features:

a 40kW Solar PV system to offset power use
rain garden, permeable car park and water tank used for toilets and irrigation
reclaimed and recycled content and certified sustainability materials specified in the project
natural ventilation mixed with mechanical service for optimum ventilation
optimum building orientation for heating and cooling
double glazed windows
indigenous plants specified for the landscape area.

Naming the centre

Geographic Names Victoria has officially approved and registered the name murnong Community Centre for the future community centre.

murnong means 'yam daisy' in the Woi Wurrung language of the Wurundjeri people. murnong is reflective of the indigenous flora found in the landscape of Donnybrook and its surrounding suburbs.The roots of murnong plants were an important traditional food source for many Aboriginal people.

In April 2023, Council invited feedback from the public on the murnong Community Centre name and received 30 responses, with the majority of submissions in support of the name.

murnong Kindergarten

murnong Community Centre will include a 66-place kindergarten to complement the existing 33-place kindergarten on the Donnybrook Primary School site next door.

To enrol in three or four-year-old kindergarten at murnong Kindergarten, visit Council's kindergarten application page.