A Thriving Community Where Everyone Belongs
MEDIA RELEASE
15 March 2018
Celebrating Sunbury Rock Festival
Melton City Libraries is taking a walk down memory lane to the Sunbury Rock Festival.
Almost 50 years after its inception, author Peter Evans has released the very first book on the Sunbury Rock Festival which Melton City Libraries is helping celebrate.
But don’t let the name fool you. The festival,which ran in the early 70s across the Australia Day long weekend, had strong ties to the City of Melton.
The famous event was held at George Duncan’s private farm along Jackson’s Creek, 2km north east of Diggers Rest.
The name Diggers Rest ’72 was rejected in favour of a more summery Sunbury ’72, although most punters arrived via Diggers Rest Train Station, the festival gates were in Watson’s Road, Diggers Rest, and the Diggers Rest Hotel became the festival watering hole.
Sunbury Rock Festival attracted huge international acts including Queen and Deep Purple, who performed alongside Aussie legends such as Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs, Skyhooks, Max Merritt and the Meteors and Chain.
Evans will be visiting Melton Library and Learning Hub for an author talk at 6pm on 22 March.
City of Melton Mayor, Cr Bob Turner, invited music and history buffs to come along.
“The Sunbury Rock Festival had an amazing knack for attracting huge bands to the west, and it was right at our doorstep,” Cr Turner said.
“I’ll be fascinated to hear Peter Evans’ take on it, and how much our residents remember, many of which would have attended.”
Singer Mike Rudd from Aussie rock band Spectrum will also be performing at the event.
Bookings are essential. See melton.vic.gov.au/sunbury-rock-festival
Details:
Where: Melton Library and Learning Hub
When: Thursday, 22 March
Time: 6-8pm
ENDS
Melton City Council media enquiries (not for publication): Therese Allaoui – Media and Communications Adviser on (03) 9747 7132.
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