Cairnlea, Victoria

Cairnlea is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 17 km north-west of Melbourne's central business district, located within the City of Brimbank local government area. Cairnlea recorded a population of 10,038 at the 2021 census.

20th century
The former Albion site became open grassland after European settlement but later, from 1939, it was a government explosives manufacturing site. The site closed in the 1990s.

21st century
The suburb is a new estate, and has only been developed since 1999, with development of the new suburb finished in mid-2005. The suburb features several man-made lakes and has implemented a suburb-wide stormwater recycling system that feeds all the lakes.

By 2011 Cairnlea is projected to have 3,000 residential blocks and to have a population of more than 10,000. It covers 460 ha bounded by Station Road, the Western Highway and the Western Ring Road.

Geography
Kororoit Creek is located on the southern border of the suburb and Jones Creek on the Northern Border. The creeks have been home to healthy populations of native reptiles for thousands of years, including Tiger snake, Eastern blue-tongued lizard and Eastern brown snake. Unfortunately, due to development over the past 20 years, these species are now rarely seen in the area.

Due to development of lakes and wetlands, species of frogs have reclaimed the area. The Eastern Banjo Frog, common eastern froglet and even the now endangered growling grass frog have been seen and heard in the new wetlands and in Kororoit Creek. Some species of birds are also returning to the creeks and lakes, such as pelicans and cormorants.


 * Brimbank Park
 * Kororoit Creek Trail

Due to the former industrial use as an explosives factory, the land was highly contaminated. Much of the area was remediated for office and then residential development although many toxic chemicals remain in the area.

Localities

 * Iramoo

Landmarks

 * The Black Powder Mill
 * Cairnlea Community Hub
 * Cairnlea Town Centre
 * The Victorian Croquet Club
 * Cairnlea FC

Economy
The Cairnlea Shopping Centre provides a number of small shops, a super-clinic, a Coles supermarket and a number of food and dining outlets. It is located at the intersection of Cairnlea Drive and Furlong Road.

Education

 * Cairnlea Park Primary School

Parks and gardens
Some 130 ha have been set aside for public open space. Part of that process has seen two endangered species (the Plains Rice-flower and the Striped Legless Lizard) having reserves and management plans set up for their preservation.