Narre Warren, Victoria

Narre Warren Melbourne, Victoria
Summer storms over Narre Warren residences
Narre Warren
Coordinates	38°01′05″S 145°18′00″E / 38.018°S 145.3°E / -38.018; 145.3Coordinates: 38°01′05″S 145°18′00″E / 38.018°S 145.3°E / -38.018; 145.3
Population	25,882 (2011 census)[1]
Postcode(s)	3805
Location	38 km (24 mi) from Melbourne 11 km (7 mi) from Dandenong
LGA(s)	City of Casey
State electorate(s)	Narre Warren North
Federal Division(s)	Holt La Trobe
Suburbs around Narre Warren: Endeavour Hills Narre Warren North Harkaway Hallam Narre Warren Berwick Hampton Park Narre Warren South Clyde

Narre Warren is a suburb of Melbourne, Australia, 38 km southeast of Melbourne's central business district in the local government area of the City of Casey. At the 2011 Census, Narre Warren had a population of 25,882.^[1] Narre Warren has a population density of over 2000 people per square kilometre. Narre Warren has its own railway station, located on Webb Street, and is home to Australia's second largest shopping centre (by Gross Leasable Area), Westfield Fountain Gate, after Chadstone Shopping Centre. The biggest secondary school in Narre Warren is Fountain Gate Secondary College.

History

Narre Warren Post Office, located on what is now Heatherton Road, opened on 21 January 1869. In 1900 it was renamed Narre Warren North, and Narre Warren Railway Station Post Office (open since 1886) was renamed Narre Warren.^[2]

Demographics

The most common ancestries in Narre Warren were Australian 21.9%, English 20.6%, Irish 5.1%, Scottish 5.1% and Indian 3.6%. 62.7% of people were born in Australia. The most common countries of birth were India 3.6%, England 3.2%, Sri Lanka 2.7%, Afghanistan 1.9% and New Zealand 1.9%. The most common responses for religion were Catholic 28.8%, No Religion 19.6%, Anglican 10.9%, Islam 5.6% and Buddhism 3.9%. 66.7% of people spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Dari 10%, Sinhalese 1.9%, Arabic 1.5%, Spanish 1.4% and Hindi 1.3%.^[1]

Residential development

A Narre Warren street before the construction of houses – 2001

The same Narre Warren street after the construction of houses – 2006

Over the years Narre Warren has grown from a semi-rural residential town to become a part of a major growth corridor in the southeast of Melbourne.

In recent years a multitude of new housing developments have seen Narre Warren expand to such an extent that it now adjoins neighbouring suburbs such as Berwick.

Education

Schools in Narre Warren include Narre Warren North Primary School, Oatlands Primary School, Maramba Primary School, Don Bosco Primary School, Mary Mackillop Primary School, Fountain Gate Secondary College, Alkira Secondary College, Fountain Gate Primary School, Dandenong Valley Special School and Fleetwood Primary School (formerly known as Hallam Valley Primary School), Narre Warren South P-12 College and Waverley Christian College - Narre Warren South Campus. Narre Warren Station Primary School was closed at the end of 2001 and moved to Narre Warren South (to suit the change in growth areas) where it became Hillsmeade Primary School. There is also a large community education centre, Narre Community Learning Centre Inc., located in Malcolm Court.

Retail and civic development

Westfield Fountain Gate (named after one of the earlier subdivisions) is at the heart of the main commercial precinct in Narre Warren. It is one of the largest shopping centres in Australia, housing many of Australia's major retailers. The centre has been made famous by the popular Australian television show Kath & Kim, parts of which were also filmed at Westfield Southland.^[3]

There is also a local shopping strip around the railway station in Webb Street.

The civic precinct is located outside the boundary of Westfield, and includes the City of Casey municipal offices, Narre Warren Library and the Casey ARC (Aquatic and Recreation Centre). This precinct is currently being considered for a $300 million redevelopment by the Casey Council.^[4]

References