A gentle sea breeze carries whispers of history here at Point Cook. This suburb of Melbourne is more than just a modern residential area. It is a place where aviation history took flight. Point Cook’s story stretches back to 1836. John M. Cooke, a ship’s mate on the H.M.S. Rattlesnake, charted this bay. The area was named in his honour.
Originally, it was spelled Point Cooke. The “e” was dropped, but in the early 2000s, the point itself was officially renamed “Point Cooke”. For simplicity, we will call it Point Cook.
In 1853, pastoralist Thomas Chirnside acquired land here. He built the Point Cook Homestead in 1857. This twenty-five-room house became a hub for the expanding Chirnside pastoral empire. The Chirnside brothers loved hunting. They introduced deer and foxes to Point Cook in the 1850s. Melbourne Hunt Club members were invited to hunt here. The Chirnsides even imported horses for breeding. Point Cook was said to have three racetracks.
However, in 1873, the Chirnside brothers began building Werribee Park Mansion. Once completed in 1877, it displaced Point Cook Homestead as the family’s primary residence.
Now let us fast forward to the early 20th century. In 1912, the Federal Government purchased land in Point Cook. Their vision was to establish the Australian Flying Corps. This marked a pivotal moment in Australian aviation history.
The AFC’s success in World War I led to its renaming. It became the Royal Australian Air Force. Subsequently, the AFC base at Point Cook became RAAF Base Point Cook. Point Cook holds the title of birthplace and spiritual home of the RAAF. It remained the RAAF’s only base until 1925.
Today, RAAF Base Point Cook houses the RAAF College and the RAAF Museum. The museum showcases the rich history of Australian military aviation. In 1920, the Chirnside family sold the remainder of their Point Cook property. Sydney Dalrymple acquired it. Four years later, Dalrymple sold the northern part to Cheetham Salt Pty Ltd. They created salt recovery lagoons.
Cheetham Salt established ponds in the 1920s. Seawater was evaporated to harvest salt. This operation continued until the early 1990s. The Victorian Government then purchased the site. The bayside part became Cheetham Wetlands. It is now an important migratory bird habitat.
The higher western section was developed into housing estates. In 1948, Point Cook hosted the Australian Grand Prix. The race took place at the Point Cook RAAF Base. Frank Pratt won driving a BMW 328.
Point Cook has transformed since 1996. Back then it was basically a rural community around the RAAF Base. Its population was only around 580 people. By 2021, Point Cook’s population had exploded to over 66,000. It is now one of Melbourne’s fastest-growing suburbs. Point Cook is also one of Australia’s most multicultural suburbs.
Point Cook Town Centre offers a wide range of shops and restaurants. There are over 50 restaurants and cafes in Point Cook. They reflect Melbourne’s diverse culinary scene.
As you explore Point Cook today, remember its layered past. From pastoral beginnings to aviation history, Point Cook is a place of constant evolution. It is a vibrant community with a rich heritage.