Cardinia Shire is situated 55 Kilometres south east of Melbourne. To the north are the picturesque Dandenong Ranges, to the south, the prime agricultural lands of the Koo Wee Rup district and Westernport Bay. To the east, the rural towns of Drouin and Warragul and the magnificent Strzelecki Ranges and to the west, the urban areas of Berwick and Cranbourne and the freeway to Melbourne.
The Local Government area of Cardinia comprises over 30 townships and localities including Avonsleigh, Bayles, Beaconsfield, Bunyip, Caldermeade, Cardinia, Catani, Clematis, Cockatoo, Cora Lynn, Dalmore, Dewhurst, Emerald, Garfield, Gembrook, Guys Hill, Heath Hill, Iona, Koo Wee Rup, Lang Lang, Maryknoll, Menzies Creek, Monomeith, Nar Nar Goon, Officer, Pakenham, Pakenham South, Pakenham Upper, Tonimbuk, Tynong, Upper Beaconsfield and Yannathan.
Cardinia combines a unique mix of residential and rural land areas of special environmental significance. There are three distinct zones in the Shire – the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges, the Princes Highway corridor and the Koo Wee Rup agricultural production area.
A young, growing community
An high proportion of Cardinia’s population is under 19 years of age. The area has a very low ethnicity when compared to Melbourne and Victoria. Ninety percent of residents were born in Australia, UK and New Zealand.
Cardinia residents are more likely to be married. Over one quarter describe themselves as having no religious beliefs. Compared to the rest of the State fewer residents are currently attending university; and have left school earlier.
The majority of people live in a detached house that they are purchasing. Over seventy three percent of houses are owned or are being purchased. A high proportion of the local workforce relies on a private motor vehicle to travel to work.
