THE City of Greater Dandenong has penned an open letter to Mr Monopoly after the south-east of Melbourne missed out on a place in the new Melbourne Monopoly game.
Dear Mr Monopoly,
Congratulations on the release of your latest game Melbourne Monopoly, it is sure to be a hit with local families this Christmas, however we noticed that Melbourne’s south-east has not even rated a mention.
It is a shame that such an iconic region has been overlooked in this snapshot of Melbourne. We believe that Greater Dandenong alone is a real contender for some of those real estate hot spots.
Take for instance the Dandenong Market, which next year celebrates its 150th anniversary. Livestock and locally grown fruit and veg were staples in the early years. Today there is a diverse range of cultures represented in the food, clothing and gifts for sale.
Sitting atop the Market is arguably one of the region’s most iconic landmarks the Dandy Pig. The neon pig has been doffing his top hat to the world since the 1950s. So iconic is our pig that he was immortalised by Australia Post on a stamp, worth $1.40, in September this year.
Known for our cultural diversity, Greater Dandenong is one of the most multicultural communities in Australia with residents coming from more than 150 different countries.
We have several cultural precincts that are known far and wide, including Little India and the award winning Afghan Bazaar, both in Dandenong. But our best known precinct is sensational Springvale, which shows off the best of South East Asia. You can enter the precinct via the Springvale Asian Gateway, which was launched just this year.
Finally, Drum Theatre is not only visually pleasing with its striking clock tower and magnificent red drum design, but it also draws the crowds. In 2015 alone it hosted performances by Opera Australia, The Australian Ballet and Circus Oz. But don’t forget the Russian National Ballet Theatre which is bringing its touring show of Swan Lake to the central Dandenong theatre next month.
Sure the MCG and Federation Square deserve to be on those two spots before players pass Go, but our community is also vibrant and iconic, and we love a family game night as much as Robert Doyle. Perhaps we could make the cut for a future version of Monopoly?
Stay in touch.
Yours Sincerely,
The City of Greater Dandenong
