Point Cook, Victoria

Point Cook Melbourne, Victoria
A street of newly built houses in Point Cook in October 2006
Population	14,162 (2006)
• Density
Postcode(s)	3030
Area	9.3 km2 (3.6 sq mi)
Location	25 km (16 mi) from Melbourne
LGA(s)	City of Wyndham
State electorate(s)	Altona
Federal division(s)	Lalor
Suburbs around Point Cook: Hoppers Crossing Laverton Altona Meadows Werribee South Point Cook Port Phillip

Point Cook is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 25 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Wyndham. At the 2006 Census, Point Cook had a population of 14,162.

Point Cook is the home of RAAF Base Williams, Point Cook, the birthplace of the Royal Australian Air Force, and is the current home of the RAAF Museum.

History

Early settlers

Point Cook was originally spelt Point Cooke, and named in 1836. Almost all references dropped the "e", however in the early 2000s the point itself was officially renamed "Point Cooke". Point Cook was named after John M. Cooke, mate of His Majesty's Vessel "Rattlesnake'. Commanded by Captain Hobson, the ship charted part of Port Phillip Bay in 1836.

William Drayton Taylor leased the land around Point Cook promontory in 1849. The following year in 1850 Taylor transferred his licence to Alexander Irvine. By March 1852, a six room weatherboard cottage, had been erected.

In 1853 the pastoralist Thomas Chirnside added the farmlands of Point Cook to his holdings. He built the famous Point Cook Homestead of twenty-five rooms in 1857. Initially Point Cook was an important segment of the expanding pastoral empire established by Thomas and his brother Andrew. As their extensive land holdings were developed substantial homesteads were later constructed at Werribee Park, Carranballac, Mount Williams and Curnong.

Due to the Chirnside brothers' deep interest in hunting, deer & foxes were introduced to Point Cook in the 1850s. As early as 1859 members of the Melbourne Hunt Club and the Geelong & District Hunt Club were invited to hunt at Point Cook. In the early 1860s Thomas Chirnside imported valuable horses for the breeding at Point Cook. The property was said to have three racetracks. The Chirnsides became one of Victoria's prominent pastoral families, entertaining the colonial gentry and organising sporting functions for their guests at Point Cook.

In 1873 the Chirnside brothers began construction of the elaborate mansion at Werribee Park. By 1877 the Werribee Park Mansion had been completed and it largely displaced the Point Cook homestead as their families focus.

1900s

In 1912 the federal government purchased a large section of Point Cook with a vision to establish the Australian Flying Corps (AFC). Due to the success of the AFC in the First World War, the AFC was renamed the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and this led to the eventual renaming of the AFC base at Point Cook to RAAF Base Williams. Point Cook remained the RAAF's only base until 1925 when RAAF Base Richmond and the nearby RAAF Base Laverton were built. Point Cook is considered the birthplace and the spiritual home of the RAAF. Today the RAAF Williams base at Point Cook is the home of the RAAF College including Officers Training School (OTS) and the RAAF Museum.

In 1920 the Chirnside family sold the remainder of the Point Cook property to Sydney Dalrymple. This ended nearly 70 years of the Chirnside family's ownership of Point Cook. Four years later in 1924 Dalrymple sold the northern part of the Point Cook land to Cheetham Salt Pty Ltd for salt recovery lagoons.

Point Cook Post Office opened in 1926, was renamed Point Cook R.A.A.F. Post Office in 1940, and closed in 1993. A new Point Cook office opened in 2005 subsequent to suburban development in the area.

Cheetham Salt established a series of ponds in the 1920s where sea water was fed into the shallow ponds and allowed to evaporate. Dried salt was then harvested form the floor of the lagoons. This operation continued until the early 1990s, when the site was purchased by the Victorian Government. The more environmentally important bayside part of the original saltworks now comprises Cheetham Wetlands which make up the migratory bird habitat and conservation area that is there today.

The higher, western section is being developed privately by the various housing estates, such as Sanctuary Lakes that are there today. In 1948 Point Cook hosted the Australian Grand Prix, which was held at the Point Cook RAAF Base. The race was won by Frank Pratt driving a BMW 328.

Today

In 1996, Point Cook was basically a rural community, with the RAAF Williams Base. Point Cook’s population in 1996 was approximately 580, of whom 552 lived on the RAAF base. By 2001, Point Cook’s population had increased to 1737, and by August 2006 the population of Point Cook was 14,162 as per the 2006 Australian Census. Today Point Cook is one of the major growth regions in Melbourne's western suburbs.

It is predicted that the population of Point Cook will increase to 29,263 by 2011 & 41,474 by 2016. When taking into account the Melbourne 2030 Plan's current urban growth boundary, it is believed that Point Cook’s population will peak at approximately 52,000 by the late 2020’s.

Facilities

Housing Estates

Point Cook is now the home of many new housing estates including Greg Norman designed Sanctuary Lakes golfing estate.

1. Boardwalk Estate
2. Innisfail[1]
3. Newminster
4. Point Cook Gardens
5. Lincoln Heath
6. Waterhaven
7. The Greens
8. Willow Green
9. Monterey Central
10. Homestead Run
11. Sanctuary Lakes
12. Seabrook
13. Alamanda Estate
14. Featherbrook
15. Hacketts Rise
16. Saltwater Coast

New Housing estates due to start in 2009;

1. Karinya

Lack of Broadband continues to be an issue, as much as 50% of these new areas have no access to ADSL services.

Education

Schools in the Suburb of Point Cook:

1. Carranballac Prep - Year 9 College - Jamieson Way Campus
2. Carranballac Prep - Year 9 College - Boardwalk Campus
3. Point Cook Primary School
4. Point Cook West Catholic Primary School - (Stella Maris Catholic Primary School)
5. Point Cook Catholic Primary School - (Lumen Christi School)
6. Seabrook Primary School
7. Point Cook Senior Secondary College Year 10 - Year 12
8. Emmanuel College: Notre Dame Campus at Point Cook (Co-educational Catholic Secondary School Year 7-12)

RAAF Base

The RAAF base contains a museum for visitors, most of what is left are prohibited and restricted areas. The RAAF Williams Base contains a Horizon Tank (a diving tank, not an armoured fighting vehicle), one of only three in the world. It was used in the television series Moby Dick and Noah's Ark.

Shopping

A new Point Cook town centre has been constructed on the corner of Dunnings Road and Boardwalk Boulevard, with the development to include a main street retail and commercial town centre, up to 135 specialty shops, as well as Coles, Aldi , Target, Harris Scarfe, Dick Smith Electronics, Growers Fresh, Pharmacy Select and Reject-Shop outlets. Stage 1 had a grand opening on August 21, 2008.

see also Williams Landing

Separate to this, in the neighbouring suburb is the Williams Landing development. Williams Landing will be developed into a Transit-oriented development, major activity centre and employment node. Williams Landing will be built on land that was, up until the 1980s the airfield & runway of the RAAF Base Laverton, which is situated on the northern edge of Point Cook. Williams landing will be next to the planned and approved future Williams Landing Railway Station (Point Cook railway station), just across Princes Freeway and for residents of Point Cook will be accessed via Palmers Road. Construction of Williams Landing is due to commence in early 2008 & is due to be completed by 2025.

Marina

Directly south west of Point Cook will be the new development of Wyndham Harbour Marina. Wyndham Harbour marina, a $440 million project, will be the only waterfront development of its kind - just 25 minutes drive from Melbourne’s Central Business District and right next to Point Cook. The new marina at Wyndam Harbour will have 1000 wet berths from 10-35 metres including 6 super yacht berths. There will also be a 300 berth dry stack. In addition there will be a new beach built on the Point Cook side of the Marina along with 12 hectares of public recreational space & wetlands. The development will also incorporate water/marina front restaurants & cafes. This development is due to start in early 2010.

Transport

Point Cook is located to the south of the Princes Freeway, and is served by the Point Cook Road and Forsyth Road exits. A Palmers Road offramp opened in March 2008, as an alternate route onto the freeway from Point Cook Road. (Palmers Road is now open as of 27 May, 2008.)

The nearest railway stations are at Laverton and Aircraft on the Werribee line. Point Cook railway station (To be renamed Williams Landing railway station) on the Werribee line is proposed to start construction in 2010, on the corner of Palmers Road and the Princes Freeway.

Sporting Clubs

1. Point Cook Football Club (PCFC)
2. Point Cook Cricket club (PCCC)

Golfers play at the course of the Sanctuary Lakes Club on Point Cook Road.

Tourism

Tourist attractions in Point Cook include:.

1. Point Cook Homestead
2. Point Cook Coastal Park
3. Point Cook RAAF Museum

Tourist attractions neighbouring Point Cook include:.

1. Werribee Open Range Zoo - African safari world
2. Werribee Park Mansion

Notable Residents

1. Anthony Callea - Anthony Callea spent his teenage & early adult years living with his parents in Point Cook.