Point Cook, Western Suburbs, Melbourne

Point Cook: Hidden gem of the Western suburbs

By Mariah Jewell

Located approximately 30 minutes west of Melbourne, Point Cook is a young and up-and-coming suburb in the Wyndham City Council area. The surrounding suburbs include Altona Meadows, Hoppers Crossing, Laverton, and Werribee, where many shopping centres, schools, and activities are located. ­Point Cook is also a 44-minute drive to Geelong, 24 minutes to Avalon Airport, and 30 minutes from Melbourne Airport. This means that Point Cook is in a great position to reach the CBD and attractions like the Great Ocean Road and the Werribee Open Range Zoo.

 It is home to many younger families due to the many housing development projects. According to statistics from Domain.com.au, the average age for the suburb ranges from 20 to 39 years old, with the majority of the homes occupied by families. The median price point for a 3-bedroom house for this area $505k, which is slightly above the median prices for Werribee ($421k), Hoppers Crossing ($450k), and Laverton ($487k). Many of the newer homes in Point Cook are larger and able to attract new families to the area. Additionally, the top occupations for the area include professional and technical positions, justifying the higher house prices.

Data from RealEstate.com.au shows that the median rental price per week for a 3-bed house is $370. This is in comparison to Werribee ($330 pw), Hoppers Crossing ($342.50 pw), and Laverton ($320). The price point for Point Cook is thus higher than the surrounding suburbs. However, this could be due to the newer developments that are being built in Point Cook. This does appear to be relative to the median price point for buying in this suburb. With the placement of Point Cook between the CBD and Geelong, the price for renting in Point Cook is relatively priced.

Point Cook is home to many primary and secondary schools. The primary schools all appear to score relatively highly on English and Mathematics in this area. The primary schools are medium to large in size to help accommodate for the growth in the area. In terms of secondary schools, there are many schools in the area. One such school, just over in Werribee, is the selective school Suzanne Cory High School. This school, in addition to the other four secondary schools in Point Cook, provides a diverse range of schooling options for the families in the area (BetterEducation.com.au).

Additionally, the Werribee campuses for both the University of Melbourne and Victoria University are located just over 10 minutes from the town centre. This makes the area a great hub for all levels of education.

Stockland Point Cook Shopping Centre (Source: Domain.com.au)

On Boardwalk Boulevard, one of the main streets in Point Cook, the main shopping centre is located. It boasts many shops, restaurants, the Point Cook library, and a 24hr gym. Stockland Town Centre has a very unique layout – it consists of four main buildings around Main Street and Murnong Street, with various cafes and restaurants along the outside of these buildings. This allows for a very open, inviting, and modern shopping experience. This shopping centre features many major chain stores and supermarkets. In addition to this major shopping centre, the Featherbrook and Sanctuary Lakes shopping centres are located less than 5 minutes from Boardwalk Blvd.

Point Cook is a very family centred suburb. There are many parks found within and around the suburb that definitely facilitates a more family-oriented lifestyle. Many of these parks are within walking distance of one another and the many housing development sites. Additionally, these parks are close to the many schools in the area, as well as the bay and some lakes. One such park is the Sanctuary Lakes South Boulevard park, located close to the bay and features a small man-made lake. Having this lake in Point Cook really contributes to the easy vibe that permeates the suburb. The Sanctuary Lakes Golf Club is located on the edge of this park. The combination of these parks and lakes really gives Point Cook a relaxed yet contemporary vibe, making it a kind of oasis close to the CBD.

Map of the major parks in and around Point Cook (Source: Google Maps (Screenshot))

There are many opportunities for customer-focused roles within Point Cook, as well as self-employment. Despite much of the population of Point Cook consisting of professionals, beyond retail, hospitality, and health care, there are not too many professional job opportunities. However, because of its proximity to the Williams Landing train station and the West Gate Freeway, access into the CBD or Geelong is allows for employment opportunities. Additionally, Werribee is just a suburb over, where many more professional jobs are located.

Whether you are looking to buy or rent in Point Cook, this area definitely appeals to more of the first home buyers, new families, and middle-class income earners. The location and facilities available to residents in this suburb makes it a perfect suburb for young people and families. These facilities include the access to the freeway and public transport into the city and out, as well as the many shopping centres and parks. The abundance of schools to choose from in and around the area is adds to the appeal of this area. Overall, Point Cook is a wonderful young, middle-class suburb that is located in an incredibly convenient spot away from the CBD. The newer developments mean that the overwhelming majority of houses are styled in a contemporary and/or modern style, giving residents a great blank canvas to work with regarding styling.