Cranbourne, Victoria facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cranbourne Melbourne, Victoria
Old Shire Offices, Cranbourne
Cranbourne Location in Melbourne
Population	20,094 (2016 census)
• Density	2,093/km2 (5,420/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	3977
Elevation	62 m (203 ft)
Area	9.6 km2 (3.7 sq mi)
Location	43 km (27 mi) from Melbourne 13 km (8 mi) from Dandenong 43 km (27 mi) from Phillip Island
LGA(s)	City of Casey
State electorate(s)	Cranbourne
Federal Division(s)	Holt
Suburbs around Cranbourne: Lynbrook Cranbourne North Cranbourne North Cranbourne West Cranbourne Cranbourne East Botanic Ridge Junction Village Clyde

Cranbourne is a busy suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It's about 43 kilometers (27 miles) south-east of Melbourne's city center. Cranbourne is part of the City of Casey local government area. In 2016, about 20,094 people lived in Cranbourne. The wider Cranbourne area, which includes nearby suburbs like Cranbourne North and Cranbourne East, had a population of 51,340 people.

History of Cranbourne

Before European settlers arrived, the Cranbourne area was likely home to the Boonwurrung Aboriginal people. The first European settlers, the Ruffy brothers, came in 1836. They later opened a place called the Cranbourne Inn.

More settlers moved into the area from the 1860s onwards. The Cranbourne Post Office first opened its doors on August 1, 1857.

Developing the land around Cranbourne was a bit tricky because of the Koo Wee Rup swampland. However, a person named William Lyall helped organize the draining of the swamp. This made the land useful for farming.

From 1860 until 1994, Cranbourne was the main administrative center for the Shire of Cranbourne. The old council building is still there today. It is now used as a health care center called 'The Cranbourne Integrated Care Centre'.

Fun Places to Visit

Cranbourne has many interesting places to explore. In the southern part of Cranbourne, you'll find the Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne. This is a beautiful place to learn about plants and nature.

There's also the Cranbourne Racecourse & Recreation Reserve. If you enjoy golf, Cranbourne has several courses, including the Cranbourne Golf Club.

• The Casey Complex opened in 1994. It's a big community center with lots of things to do.
• Inside the Casey Complex, you can find The Shed, which is an indoor skating facility.
• There's also the Cranbourne Indoor Sports Centre for basketball, netball, and indoor soccer.
• The Cranbourne Branch of the Casey-Cardinia Library is also located here.
• The Factory is a rehearsal center for arts.
• You can also find Bowland, a ten-pin bowling complex with 24 lanes.
• A new indoor swimming complex opened in 2009. It has a wave pool, a 50-meter lap pool, slides, and a hydrotherapy pool. This is next to the Casey Complex.
• Along Berwick-Cranbourne Road, you'll find the Casey Fields Complex, another great spot for activities.

Events in Cranbourne

Each year, the MRA Cranbourne GP Run takes place. This event is held on the Saturday of the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.

You can also tune into Casey Radio 97.7FM, the local radio station.

Getting Around: Public Transport

Cranbourne has a train station called Cranbourne railway station. This is the end of the Cranbourne railway line. The train line was extended in February 2022.

There are plans to extend the train line further to Clyde. Construction for this extension is expected to start around 2025.

Cranbourne also has many bus services. These buses help people travel to and from the surrounding suburbs easily.

Sports and Activities

Casey Fields

Cranbourne is a great place for sports and outdoor activities!

Team Sports

• Australian Football and Cricket: The Casey Demons, a team in the Victorian Football League, play their home games at Casey Fields. There are nine ovals for Australian football and cricket around Cranbourne. The Cranbourne Cricket Club started in 1881, and the Cranbourne Football Club began in 1889.
• Rugby: You can find two rugby fields at Lawson Poole Reserve and Clyde Recreation Reserve.
• Football (Soccer): The Casey Comets Football Club was founded in 1975. They play at Comets Stadium in Cranbourne. Their senior teams compete in state leagues.
• Basketball and Netball: There are six basketball courts at the Terry Vickerman Centre. You can also find an outdoor netball court at the Glover Recreation Reserve.

Other Sports

• Tennis: Cranbourne has many tennis courts! There are 32 outdoor courts at various clubs and reserves. Plus, there are eight indoor courts at the Terry Vickerman Centre.
• Golf: If you like golf, there are two private courses: Ranfurlie Golf Club and Cranbourne Golf Club.
• Horse Riding: You can enjoy club-based horse riding at the Morning Mist Recreation Reserve in Cranbourne South.

Racing and More

• Horse and Greyhound Racing: Cranbourne has a special facility called the Cranbourne Racing Centre and Racecourse. It hosts horse racing events with the Cranbourne Turf Club. It also has harness racing and greyhound racing.
• Lawn Bowls: You can play lawn bowls at the Cranbourne Bowls Club and the Cranbourne RSL Bowls Club.
• Shooting: Shooting facilities are available at the Cranbourne Dandenong Pistol Club.

Fun for Everyone

• Skating and BMX: For those who love wheels, there are skating and BMX facilities at the Merinda Park outdoor skate park.