Hoppers Crossing

Hoppers Crossing, a residential suburb immediately east of Werribee, is 25 km south-west of central Melbourne.

Hoppers Lane runs through the Werribee animal research institute and crosses the Princes Highway and the railway line, whereupon it becomes Morris Road. It is probable that the name derives from the road crossing, which is next to the Hoppers Crossing railing station. Survey maps also mention a Hoppers Hill in the vicinity.

Before the 1960s Hoppers Crossing was distinguished only by a general store. In 1963 the subdivision of residential land occurred, and substantial growth was under way by the early 1970s. The first local shopping centre was Woodville Park and the first local State primary schools were Mossfiel (1970) and Woodville. In 1981 the Hoppers Crossing Shopping Centre (Target store and 11 shops) was opened, and the ensuing years were a period of strong growth. The estimated population growth during 1980-94 was from about 8500 to 40,000 persons. The Werribee Plaza shopping centre opened in 1985. Classified as a major regional centre, by 2012 it had a department store, two discount department stores, two supermarkets and 220 other retail outlets. Together with cinemas, library and tavern, the total floor area is 55,000 square metres.

Hoppers Crossing extends northwards from the Princes Highway to the suburbs of Tarneit and Truganina. There are three State primary schools, a secondary college (1984) and a P-12 college (1992). Private schools comprise two Catholic primary schools (1973, 1982), a Catholic secondary college (1997) and the Heathhill Christian College (1982). The Victorian University of Technology has a campus south of Hoppers Crossing. The Hoppers Crossing secondary college had 1392 pupils in 2014.

Recreational spaces are mostly linear, along drainage reserves and beside the Skeleton Creek, the eastern boundary of Hoppers Crossing.

The approach to Hoppers Crossing along the Princes Highway from Melbourne mainly consists of warehouses and factory buildings and the approach along Old Geelong Road has big box retail outlets. The hinterland is mostly residential. The land prices have been relatively modest for first home buyers. Between 1987 and 1996 the median house price in Hoppers Crossing was a little over 85% of the median for metropolitan Melbourne.

Hoppers Crossing’s census populations have been: