Coolaroo, Victoria

Coolaroo is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 18 km (11 mi) north of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Hume local government area. Coolaroo recorded a population of 3,193 at the 2021 census.^[1]

Coolaroo Melbourne, Victoria
Coolaroo railway station in October 2019
Coolaroo Location in metropolitan Melbourne
Coordinates	37.657°S 144.927°E / -37.657; 144.927
Population	3,193 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	1,060/km2 (2,800/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	3048 (shared with Meadow Heights)
Area	3 km2 (1.2 sq mi)
Location	18 km (11 mi) N of Melbourne
LGA(s)	City of Hume
State electorate(s)	Broadmeadows
Federal division(s)	Calwell
Suburbs around Coolaroo: Roxburgh Park Roxburgh Park Somerton Meadow Heights Coolaroo Campbellfield Broadmeadows Westmeadows Dallas Campbellfield

History

Coolaroo is thought to be derived from an Aboriginal word meaning 'brown snake'.^[2] The area was acquired by the Housing Commission of Victoria in 1951 for housing estates,^[2] with construction not commencing until 1966.^[2] Until the late 1990s, Coolaroo's boundaries extended past the railway line and Pascoe Vale Road into the area that is now known as Meadow Heights.^[3]

Population

In the 2016 census, there were 3,191 people in Coolaroo. 51.7% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were Iraq 9.2%, Turkey 5.5% and Lebanon 3.8%. 37.9% of people spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Arabic 14.4%, Turkish 11.8% and Assyrian Neo-Aramaic 8.1%, The most common responses for religion were Islam 28.8%, Catholic 23.2% and No Religion 14.4%.^[4]

Education

• Coolaroo South Primary School
• St. Mary's Coptic Orthodox College

Facilities

Most of the shopping centres near Coolaroo are located in neighbouring suburbs, including Meadow Heights, which has the Meadow Heights Shopping Centre and Dallas Shopping Centre (Dobell Place and Dargie Court), to the south.

Transport

Bus

Four bus routes service Coolaroo:

•  532 : Craigieburn station – Broadmeadows station via Upfield station. Operated by Broadmeadows Bus Service.^[5]
•  540 : Upfield station – Broadmeadows station via Coolaroo. Operated by Dysons.^[6]
•  542 : Roxburgh Park station – Pascoe Vale station via Meadow Heights, Broadmeadows and Glenroy. Operated by Dysons.^[7]
•  901 : Frankston station – Melbourne Airport (SmartBus service). Operated by Kinetic Melbourne.^[8]

Train

Coolaroo railway station is located on the Craigieburn line. It opened to passengers on Sunday 6 June 2010, almost 40 years after plans for a station first surfaced.^[9] Coolaroo is also served by Upfield station, which is the terminus for the Upfield line. The station is located on Barry Road, and the station and railway line acts as the suburb boundary between Coolaroo and Campbellfield.

Environmental issues

In 2017, Some residents in Dallas, were evacuated after a fire started in SKM recycling plants in Coolaroo emitting smoke and ashes impacting local neighbourhoods.^[10] 210 residents launched an action and the Supreme Court ordered SKM to pay $1.2 million.^[11][12] SKM was declared insolvent after totalling up to $5.5 million in debt.^[13]

In 2019, EPA Victoria removed more than 145,000 tonnes of contaminated waste at Glass Recovery Services in Coolaroo and around 9million litres of polluted water^[14] after discovering several stockpile hotspots being at risk of fire. 20 criminal charges were raised against the company and director.^[15]

In popular culture

The popular 1997 Australian film The Castle was set in Coolaroo, although the house featured was actually located in Strathmore.^[16]

See also

• City of Broadmeadows – Coolaroo was previously within this former local government area.

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Coolaroo (Suburbs and Localities)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
2. "Coolaroo", Victorian Places, Victorian Places, retrieved 24 July 2022
3. "Meadow Heights", Victorian Places, Victorian Places, retrieved 24 July 2022
4. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Coolaroo (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
5. 532 Craigieburn Station - Broadmeadows Station via Upfield Station Public Transport Victoria
6. 540 Upfield - Broadmeadows via Coolaroo Public Transport Victoria
7. 542 Roxburgh Park - Pascoe Vale via Meadow Heights & Broadmeadows & Glenroy Public Transport Victoria
8. 901 Frankston - Melbourne Airport (SMARTBUS Service) Public Transport Victoria
9. "More peak hour services for Melbourne's south east". Media Release: Minister for Public Transport. 28 April 2010. Archived from the original on 21 May 2010. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
10. Victoria, Environment Protection Authority. "1664: Coolaroo fire | Environment Protection Authority Victoria". www.epa.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
11. "Giant rubbish fire costs embattled recycler $1.2m after residents claim compensation". ABC News. 1 August 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
12. "Recycling plant fire sparks evacuation warning". ABC News. 13 July 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
13. "'Too big to fail' waste company declared insolvent in another blow to recycling". ABC News. 2 August 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
14. Victoria, Environment Protection Authority. "Stockpiles at Glass Recovery Services in Coolaroo | Environment Protection Authority Victoria". www.epa.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
15. Victoria, Environment Protection Authority. "Coolaroo stockpiles: EPA's role and action | Environment Protection Authority Victoria". www.epa.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
16. "The house from The Castle is being moved... and will likely wind up in NSW", The Age, The Age, retrieved 24 July 2022

External links

• Australian Places - Coolaroo