Hoppers Crossing, Victoria
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Hoppers Crossing is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Wyndham. It is located 25 km West South West of Melbourne.
Hoppers Crossing extends north from Princes Highway to the developing suburbs of Truganina and Tarneit.
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The Name
Hoppers Crossing got its name from one of the first families who settled there, the Hoppers family who lived near a railway crossing. A South Base shrine exists from the 1860s. Hoppers Crossing has grown since then and is currently one of the fastest growing suburbs of Melbourne.
Streets and Roads
Hoppers Lane runs through Werribee's animal research institute, crossing Princes Highway and the Railway Line, this street was also named after the Hoppers family. Other major roads include Heaths Road (C701) and Derrimut Road (C702), Hogans Road and Sayers Road.
History
Up to 1963
Until 1963 the only thing that set Hoppers Crossing apart from the rest was a general store.
1963 - 1970
In 1963 the town started to take shape, the first subdivision of residential land taking place. Growth of Hoppers Crossing followed into the 70's.
The 70's
The first shopping centre was built named Woodville Park and the first Primary School was opened in 1970 named Mossfiel Primary School.
1980's -
Growth followed into the 1980's with the Hoppers Crossing Shopping Centre (1981), which included a Target store along with 10 other shops at the time.
Growth boomed in Hoppers Crossing, the population growing nearly five times its size in the 14 years from 1980 to 1994, 8,500 people to 40,000.
More recent shopping centres built include the Werribee Plaza (which is in Hoppers Crossing, despite the name) and Hogans Corner. Werribee Plaza is more commonly known locally as 'the plaza'.
Schools
There are currently six state primary schools in existence (Bellbridge, Derrimut Heath, The Grange Primary Campus, Mossfiel, Woodville and Cambridge) and two state secondary colleges (Hoppers Crossing Secondary College and The Grange Secondary Campus). There is one Catholic school: St Peters.
Entertainment
In Hoppers Crossing, there has been a nightclub at the Werribee Plaza for some time and in recent years a cinema was built at 'the plaza'. Also, there is a skate park in the area. There are a number of clubs for those interested in sport. Recreation for young people is hampered by a relatively poor transport system, but for younger children in the area there is the Wonderland Indoor Play Centre, near the Bible College.
Unemployment
Hoppers Crossing has relatively high unemployment. This is probably due to the area having such a large population of people under 15 and new migrants. Also, it is rather difficult to find work without use of a car, which is the case in many outlying suburbs of Melbourne.
Sports
Hoppers Crossing has plenty of gyms and sports grounds. There are facilities for tennis, soccer, australian football, basketball, netball and more. In 2004 part of the Federation Trail was in Hoppers Crossing for cycling.
Recreation Reserves
Recreation reserves mostly exist along drainage reserves and the local Skeleton Creek.
| City of Wyndham (All Melbourne Suburbs) |
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| Tarneit | Tarneit | Truganina |
| Werribee | Hoppers Crossing | Laverton |
| Werribee | Werribee | Western Gardens |