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Controversy Over $1M Sale of Historic Sunbury Site
9 Oct
Summary
- Historic Sunbury psychiatric hospital site sold for $1 million.
- Sale price questioned by MPs and community groups for being too low.
- Government states property was sold at market value, per valuers.
A historic 2.6-hectare former psychiatric hospital site in Sunbury, located northwest of Melbourne, has been sold by the Victorian government to Channel Nine for $1 million. This transaction has ignited controversy, with community groups and MPs demanding answers regarding the sale price, which has been described as the cheapest purchase in the reality show's history. The land was reportedly sold at approximately $38 per square metre.
Local real estate agents have noted that comparable properties in Sunbury have sold for significantly higher prices, raising eyebrows about the $1 million figure. Despite these concerns, a spokesperson for the Victorian government stated that the property was sold at market value, with its price determined by independent valuers and certified by the state's valuer general. The government also indicated the deal includes a commitment from Nine Entertainment to deliver a separate community project.
Community advocates, who had hoped to transform the site into a cultural hub, expressed shock and anger at the sale's valuation. They have called on the government to offer adjacent, former asylum land to the community at a similar price. Concerns have also been raised about the welfare of stray cats on the property as production crews prepare to begin work.
