Coolaroo
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2012}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type = suburb
| name = Coolaroo
| city = Melbourne
| state = vic
| image = Coolaroo_Station_from_west_side_of_Pascoe_Vale_Road.jpg
| caption = Coolaroo railway station in October 2019
| lga = City of Hume
| alternative_location_map = Australia Victoria metropolitan Melbourne
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in metropolitan Melbourne
| coordinates = {{coord|37.657|S|144.927|E|display=inline,title}}
| postcode = 3048 (shared with Meadow Heights)
| pop = 3,193
| pop_year = {{CensusAU|2021}}
| pop_footnotes = {{Census 2021 AUS | id = SAL20624 | name = Coolaroo (Suburbs and Localities) | access-date = 1 July 2022 | quick = on}}
| area = 3
| est =
| stategov = Broadmeadows
| fedgov = Calwell
| dist1 = 18
| dir1 = N
| location1 = Melbourne
| dist2 =
| location2 =
| near-nw = Roxburgh Park
| near-n = Roxburgh Park
| near-ne = Somerton
| near-w = Meadow Heights
| near-e = Campbellfield
| near-sw = Broadmeadows
Westmeadows
| near-s = Dallas
| near-se = Campbellfield
| local_map = yes
| zoom = 12
}}
Coolaroo is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, {{convert|18|km|abbr=on}} 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.
History
Coolaroo is thought to be derived from an Aboriginal word meaning 'brown snake'.{{Citation | work = Victorian Places | title = Coolaroo | publisher = Victorian Places | url = https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/coolaroo | access-date = 24 July 2022}} The area was acquired by the Housing Commission of Victoria in 1951 for housing estates, with construction not commencing until 1966. 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.{{Citation | work = Victorian Places | title = Meadow Heights | publisher = Victorian Places | url = https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/meadow-heights | access-date = 24 July 2022}}
Population
In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, 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%.{{Census 2016 AUS | id = SSC20620 | name = Coolaroo (State Suburb) | access-date = 3 July 2017 | quick = on}}
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:
- {{color box|9c9726|532|white}}: Craigieburn station – Broadmeadows station via Upfield station. Operated by Broadmeadows Bus Service.[https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/14971/532-craigieburn-broadmeadows-via-upfield-station/ 532 Craigieburn Station - Broadmeadows Station via Upfield Station] Public Transport Victoria
- {{color box|d7171f|540|white}}: Upfield station – Broadmeadows station via Coolaroo. Operated by Dysons.[https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/862/upfield-broadmeadows-via-coolaroo/ 540 Upfield - Broadmeadows via Coolaroo] Public Transport Victoria
- {{color box|8c62aa|542|white}}: Roxburgh Park station – Pascoe Vale station via Meadow Heights, Broadmeadows and Glenroy. Operated by Dysons.[https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/6572/roxburgh-park-pascoe-vale-via-meadow-heights-and-broadmeadows-and-glenroy/ 542 Roxburgh Park - Pascoe Vale via Meadow Heights & Broadmeadows & Glenroy] Public Transport Victoria
- {{color box|e7b222|901|white}}: Frankston station – Melbourne Airport (SmartBus service). Operated by Kinetic Melbourne.[https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/7531/frankston-melbourne-airport/ 901 Frankston - Melbourne Airport (SMARTBUS Service)] Public Transport Victoria
=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.{{cite news | title = More peak hour services for Melbourne's south east | work = Media Release: Minister for Public Transport | date = 28 April 2010 | url = http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/newsroom/10156.html | access-date = 28 April 2010 | archive-date = 21 May 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100521070107/http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/newsroom/10156.html | url-status = dead }} 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.{{Cite web |last=Victoria |first=Environment Protection Authority |title=1664: Coolaroo fire {{!}} Environment Protection Authority Victoria |url=https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/about-epa/publications/1664 |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=www.epa.vic.gov.au |language=en}} 210 residents launched an action and the Supreme Court ordered SKM to pay $1.2 million.{{Cite news |date=2019-08-01 |title=Giant rubbish fire costs embattled recycler $1.2m after residents claim compensation |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-01/skm-recycling-ordered-to-pay-million-dollar-settlement/11373754 |access-date=2024-02-17 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}{{Cite news |date=2017-07-13 |title=Recycling plant fire sparks evacuation warning |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-13/recycling-plant-fire-speaks-evacuation-warning/8704414 |access-date=2024-02-18 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}} SKM was declared insolvent after totalling up to $5.5 million in debt.{{Cite news |date=2019-08-02 |title='Too big to fail' waste company declared insolvent in another blow to recycling |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-02/skm-recycling-declared-insolvent-by-supreme-court-of-victoria/11377446 |access-date=2024-02-20 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}
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{{Cite web |last=Victoria |first=Environment Protection Authority |title=Stockpiles at Glass Recovery Services in Coolaroo {{!}} Environment Protection Authority Victoria |url=https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/for-community/incidents/coolaroo-stockpiles |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=www.epa.vic.gov.au |language=en}} after discovering several stockpile hotspots being at risk of fire. 20 criminal charges were raised against the company and director.{{Cite web |last=Victoria |first=Environment Protection Authority |title=Coolaroo stockpiles: EPA’s role and action {{!}} Environment Protection Authority Victoria |url=https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/for-community/incidents/coolaroo-stockpiles/coolaroo-stockpiles-epa-role |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=www.epa.vic.gov.au |language=en}}
In popular culture
The popular 1997 Australian film The Castle was set in Coolaroo, although the house featured was actually located in Strathmore.{{Citation | work = The Age | title = The house from The Castle is being moved... and will likely wind up in NSW | publisher = The Age | url = https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/movies/the-house-from-the-castle-is-being-moved-and-may-wind-up-in-nsw-20170104-gtllr1.html | access-date = 24 July 2022}}
See also
- City of Broadmeadows – Coolaroo was previously within this former local government area.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20050719044529/http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/ncas/multimedia/gazetteer/list/coolaroo.html Australian Places - Coolaroo]
{{City of Hume suburbs}}