Vietnamese Museum Australia breaks ground in Melbourne

A decades-long dream is a step closer to reality in Melbourne’s west with a ground-breaking ceremony at the site of Vietnamese Museum Australia.

Heavy rain did not dampen spirits as crowds gathered on Sunday at what is now a council car park in the suburb of Sunshine.

« They say rain is auspicious and important, » said Victorian Multicultural Commission chair Vivienne Nguyen, who has been working to establish the museum since 2005.

Ms Nguyen, who came to Australia as a 12-year-old refugee, said Vietnamese Museum Australia would provide a sacred place « to pray for the souls that could not make it through to freedom ».

Around 2 million Vietnamese fled the country after the communist victory in 1975 — of whom estimates suggest as many as 10 per cent died at sea.

Tens of thousands were resettled in Australia under then-prime minister Malcolm Fraser, which was a key moment in the dismantling of the White Australia Policy.

« There’s so much strength and camaraderie across five decades here, » said high school teacher Thomas Le Hoang Nguyen.

Mr Le said the museum would provide education to future generations of Vietnamese Australians and the wider community about the « profound » contributions of people who came as refugees, including his own parents.

« We try to preserve our heritage while also fully integrating into the society … we’re proud of where we are, »

he said.

Vietnamese refugees ‘risked everything for freedom’

This year marks 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War and the mass exodus of refugees.

About 280,000 Vietnamese-born people live in Australia, making it one of the nation’s largest migrant groups.

Vietnamese Museum Australia chief executive Tammy Nguyen said the project was « deeply personal » given her own parents had escaped Vietnam on a perilous six-day, seven-night boat journey.

« Vietnamese boat people risked everything for freedom, » she said.

« For five decades, the Vietnamese community has not only survived, but thrived … we have gone from refugees to leaders. »

The Victorian government on Sunday announced it would provide an additional $2 million towards the museum.

« The Vietnamese Museum Australia will be an Australian first — and it’s only fitting that we build it right here in Victoria, the multicultural capital of our nation, » Premier Jacinta Allan said in a statement.

« We’re investing in our Vietnamese community to ensure Victorians develop a deeper understanding of their experiences and their significant contributions to Australia. »

The state government had previously invested $6.67 million to support the project.

Grant funding of almost $10 million has come from the federal government and extensive fundraising efforts have been undertaken by the community.

« It’s the first time in the world that we actually see that, » the Victorian Multicultural Commission’s Ms Nguyen said of the bipartisan support the museum had received across three levels of government.

She said the museum would mean Vietnamese refugee stories « were permanently and securely in the Australian history » and represented the community’s gratitude to Australia’s Vietnam War veterans.

More than 60,000 Australians fought in Vietnam, with 521 troops losing their lives in the war.

By Max Walden  – Australian Broadcasting Corporation – March 17, 2025