Cardinia Shire
<h2 data-block-key="kvzh9">About the Cardinia Shire</h2><p data-block-key="9b3ra"><b>The Cardinia Shire is a vast and rapidly growing municipality located on Melbourne's south-east fringe, acting as a transition zone between the metropolitan area and regional Gippsland. </b></p><p data-block-key="dnc76">The urban growth corridor, centred around Pakenham and Officer, is approximately 55 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, with strong connectivity provided by the Monash Freeway and the Pakenham train line.</p><p data-block-key="ag5uc">Cardinia provides a unique lifestyle structured into three distinct zones: the growing urban corridor, a belt of traditional country townships (like Bunyip and Garfield), and the scenic Dandenong Ranges foothills area (including Emerald and Cockatoo). As one of Victoria's fastest-growing shires, it is defined by a commitment to affordable living, family-friendly spaces, and vast open parklands. Its economy is balanced between construction, manufacturing, and agriculture, offering diverse local employment opportunities while maintaining its rural and hills charm. The Shire's name itself, <i>Kar-din-yarr</i>, is derived from the Bunurong or Wadawurrung language, meaning 'look to the rising sun' or 'close to the sunrise'.</p><p data-block-key="ajtv1">The Traditional Owners and true sovereigns of the land now known as the Cardinia Shire are the Bunurong and Wurundjeri Peoples of the Kulin Nation.</p><p data-block-key="71hpi">Cardinia Shire Council is the local council for the municipality; visit the Cardinia Shire Council website to learn more about the latest news, extensive community services, and its plans to balance rapid population growth with the preservation of its natural environment.</p><p data-block-key="eefqc"><b>Ready to discover what each unique area in the Cardinia Shire has to offer? Explore our suburb and town profiles below to learn more about each locality, including median prices for sale and rent.</b></p>