Pakenham, Victoria

Pakenham Victoria
Population	11283 (2001 census)
Postcode(s)	3810
Elevation	101 m (331 ft)
Location	59 km (37 mi) from Melbourne 14 km (9 mi) from Berwick
LGA(s)	Shire of Cardinia
State electorate(s)	Mainly Bass, some parts in Gembrook
Federal division(s)	McMillan

Pakenham is a town 56 km south-east of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, currently growing rapidly and in the process of becoming a suburb of Melbourne. New housing estates are boosting its population, estimated in 2005 to be 19000, with the property company Delfin responsible for the most prominent estate, Lakeside.

Pakenham, named after Sir Edward Pakenham, a British general who fought in the Peninsular War, is the seat of Local Government for the Shire of Cardinia.

Transport

Pakenham is on the main railway line between Melbourne and Gippsland, and its railway station marks the end of the suburban electrified service.

Pakenham is also on the Princes Highway, being the largest town between Geelong and Traralgon that has not been bypassed by freeway, although a bypass is under construction and due for completion in late 2007. The main north-south roads through Pakenham take one north to Healesville and south to Koo Wee Rup.

Facilities

Pakenham has a horse racing track, a sports centre and aquatic centre, and a civic centre.

Schools include the privately-run Beaconhills College & the local public high school Pakenham Secondary College.

External links

• Local Newspaper The Pakenham Gazette