R&H Suburb Profile PAKENHAM

Pakenham is a town in Victoria’s West Gippsland region, 56km south-east of Melbourne's CBD, in the local government area of the Shire of Cardinia.

Pakenham is in some aspects still considered a regional suburb. New housing estates are boosting its population.

Pakenham has many large national retail chains including supermarkets, hardware stores and discount supermarkets. More retail development is expected.

Public facilities include a sporting and aquatic centre, and a civic centre. The aquaticcentre includes a 25m indoor pool, with a gym, group fitness, crèche, eight multipurpose sports courts and food facilities. Pakenham’s outdoor pool is also open during the warmer weather. This centre includes a 50m pool, toddlers' pool with splash features, change rooms, kiosk, and water treatment plant. Pakenham also has a tennis club.

Pakenham is on the main railway line between Melbourne and Gippsland. Its railway station marks the end of the suburban electrified service. Pakenham Station is where all services operated by Metro Trains Melbourne heading out of the city terminate. However, V/Line trains to and from Gippsland also serve Pakenham.

Pakenham is on the Princes Highway with the Pakenham bypass allowing traffic between Melbourne and Gippsland to bypass Pakenham, both shortening travel times and alleviating traffic congestion.

Public schools include Pakenham Consolidated Primary School, Pakenham Hills Primary School, Pakenham Springs Primary School, Pakenham Lakeside Primary School and Pakenham Secondary College. Pakenham has one Catholic school, St Patrick's Catholic Primary. Private schools include Beaconhills College (Valley Campus), Chairo Christian School (Pakenham Campus) and Lakeside Lutheran College.

Sporting activities include horse racing, lawn bowls, golf, baseball, cricket, little athletics, tennis, netball and football.

Pakenham has its own hospital, with more specialist medical facilities in nearby Melbourne.