Endeavour Hills, Victoria

Endeavour Hills is bordered by the Monash Freeway to the west, Churchill Park Drive to the north, Hallam North Road to the east, and Eumemmerring Creek to the south.

[edit] History

The land in the area was home firstly to the Aboriginal people and was later settled by Europeans, who came after the 1830s. They mainly used the land for farming and cattle runs. The suburb as we know it today began with the development of a small housing estate named Endeavour Hills in the mid 1970s. The original sales office was located in what is now the Joseph Banks Medical Centre. A statue of explorer James Cook stood outside; new streets were named around the explorer Cook, his ship the Endeavour, and fellow sailors and explorers. These include James Cook Drive, Thomas Mitchell Drive, Matthew Flinders Avenue and Arthur Phillip Drive.

[edit] Education

The first school, James Cook Primary School, opened in 1979.

There are three high schools in Endeavour Hills: a campus of Maranatha Christian School, and two campuses of Eumemmerring Secondary College (Endeavour Hills and Gleneagles).

The kindergartens in the area are: Allara Kindergarten, Chalcot Lodge Kindergarten, David Collins Kindergarten, Hartley Ridge Kindergarten, James Cook Kindergarten, Reema Kindergarten

The primary schools are:
+Chalcot Lodge
+James Cook
+Mossgiel Park
+Southern Cross
+St. Paul Apostle North
+St. Paul Apostle South
+Thomas Mitchell

[edit] Transport

The nearest train station to Endeavour Hills is Dandenong (located on the Pakenham and Cranbourne lines), as no train lines run through the suburb. Therefore the main mode of transport is by car. There are also five bus routes currently servicing the area. They are:

842: Endeavour Hills Shopping Centre to Fountain Gate Shopping Centre via Narre Warren North (Cardinia Transit)
843: Mossgiel Park to Dandenong Station via Doveton (Grenda's Bus Services)
845: Endeavour Hills to Dandenong Station via Doveton (Grenda's Bus Services)
849: Mossgiel Park to Dandenong Station via Doveton (Grenda's Bus Services)
861: Endeavour Hills to Dandenong Station via Doveton (Grenda's Bus Services)

All bus routes, except route 843, operate via the bus interchange outside Endeavour Hills Shopping Centre.

Endeavour Hills is located just north of the Princes Highway, and is between the Heatherton Road and Belgrave-Hallam Road entry / exit points of the Monash Freeway.

[edit] Shopping And Facilities

The main shopping area is Endeavour Hills Shopping Centre, located on the corner of Matthew Flinders Avenue and Heatherton Road. The shopping centre is currently undergoing major renovations, and the general area around here is also due to be improved. The shopping centre is currently undergoing major renovations, and contains a Coles, Safeway, Big W, and a newly-introduced Aldi, as well as specialty stores. New stores include Dick Smith Electronics, Donut King, EB Games and Cellarbrations. Domino's Pizza, KFC, 24 hour McDonald's, Charcoal Chicken and Flounder's Fish N Chips are all located just outside.

Around this area, the local leisure centre, library (part of the Casey-Cardinia Library Corporation) and Endeavour Hills Police Station can be found. The library has recently been expanded.

Endeavour Hills is also a short drive from the much larger Westfield Fountain Gate Shopping Centre.

Just up Raymond McMahon Boulevard, a short walk from the main shopping centre, there is a strip of shops known collectively as The Terrace. Located here are The Cheesecake Shop, Johnny Boy's Pizza, a milk bar, op shop, Endeavour Cellars, real estate and various other stores.

Along Heatherton Road, near Reema Boulevard, there is a pharmacy, bakery, Blockbuster, fitness centre, and Coles Express petrol station. There are plans to expand this area in the future.

[edit] Recreation

Endeavour Hills has its own skate park located just outside the Leisure Centre. There are also tennis courts at Sydney Parkinson Reserve, and the suburb boasts an abundance of parks. The Casuarina Forest is located within James Alexander Reserve, and the reserve itself boasts some spectacular views where one can see all the way out to Port Phillip Bay. Endeavour Hills is a short walk to Lysterfield Park, Churchill National Park, the Dandenong Police Paddocks and Eumemmerring Creek. There are also many shared pedestrian/bike paths throughout the suburb.