From tens of thousands of years of continuous First Nations custodianship to one of Melbourne's fastest-growing communities — this is the story of the land around the lake.
We acknowledge the Bunurong people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which Lake Pakenham sits. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present, and emerging, and recognise their continuing connection to land, water, and community.
The Bunurong (also spelled Boon Wurrung) people have lived on this land for at least 40,000 years. The waterways, wetlands, and grasslands of the Pakenham area provided abundant food — eels, fish, yabbies, kangaroo, and native plants. Water courses like Toomuc Creek and the wetlands that would later be known as Lake Pakenham were important seasonal gathering places.
The Bunurong are part of the broader Kulin Nation, a federation of five language groups who shared cultural practices, trade routes, and ceremonial obligations across what is now Greater Melbourne and the surrounding region.
European pastoralists moved into the area in the 1830s-40s, establishing large sheep and cattle runs. The town takes its name from Sir Thomas Henry Pakenham, who never actually visited Australia — it was named by the surveyor in 1851.
The arrival of European settlers brought devastating consequences for the Bunurong people: introduced diseases, displacement from traditional lands, and the destruction of the ecosystems they had managed for millennia.
The Gippsland railway line reached Pakenham in 1877, transforming the area from isolated pastoral land into a connected township. The station became a hub for agricultural trade — dairy, beef, and timber moved to Melbourne's markets by rail.
A small township grew around the station with a general store, post office, hotel, and blacksmith. The population remained under 1,000 for decades.
For most of the 20th century, Pakenham remained a small farming community. Dairying was the dominant industry. The local show (Pakenham Agricultural Show) became an annual tradition, drawing visitors from across Gippsland.
The wetlands that would become Lake Pakenham served as drainage basins for surrounding farmland. While not yet a community asset, they supported rich biodiversity that coexisted with agricultural use.
Melbourne's suburban expansion reached Pakenham in the 1970s. Housing estates began replacing farmland, and the population grew steadily. The Princes Freeway upgrade improved access to the CBD, making Pakenham viable for commuters.
As development intensified, the importance of retaining green space and waterways became apparent. Local advocacy groups pushed for the protection of wetland areas that were at risk of being drained and built over.
The lake and its surrounds were formally designated as a community recreation reserve in the early 2000s. Cardinia Shire Council invested in walking trails, picnic facilities, playground equipment, and a revegetation program to restore indigenous plant species.
The boardwalk across the eastern wetlands was built to provide public access while protecting sensitive habitat. The wetland restoration has been an ongoing success story, attracting increasing diversity of birdlife and aquatic species.
Pakenham's population has surged past 50,000, making it one of the fastest-growing suburbs in Victoria. New estates, schools, and shopping centres have transformed the landscape.
Lake Pakenham has become a valued anchor for the community — a place where long-time residents and newcomers connect over morning walks, weekend markets, and dog walks. Recent investment has extended the trail network and upgraded facilities.
One of the original stations on the Gippsland line. The current building dates from 1923 — the old timber platform shelter is heritage-listed by VicTrack.
One of the oldest surviving buildings in the district. The original bluestone church on Main Street was built by local stonemasons using stone quarried from nearby Nar Nar Goon.
A 4 km walking route through the Toomuc Creek corridor that passes several heritage farm sites and interpretive signage about early settlement and Bunurong land use.