Why Cockatoo?

It is a very active community, with many local groups and organisations. These include Scouts, CFA Fire Brigade, Playgroups, St Luke’s Anglican Church, Community Garden, Neighbourhood House, Cockatoo Country Market, Ash Wednesday Bushfire Education Centre, Senior Citizens Club and Men’s Shed group to name just a few. View our Community Groups Directory.

For those who enjoy sports, Cockatoo has plenty of options. At Mountain Road Recreation Reserve they play football, netball, badminton, basketball and a number of other sports. There is also a skate bowl, BMX pump track, tennis club and bowls club in the Alma Treloar Reserve, along with a large children’s playground.

Located on the edge of Wright Forest, there are several walking tracks on offer. The Eastern Dandenong Ranges Trail links Gembrook to Cockatoo (7kms approx) to Emerald (a further 6km approx) with some moderate hills.

Cockatoo Primary School, Cockatoo Kindergarten on Bailey Rd, and Cockatoo community Childcare caters for our young residents.

McBride Street is the heart of Cockatoo, and home to a number of shops. You will find a café, bakery, smokehouse, hairdresser, several take away food stores, Op shop, GP, yoga studio, chemist, licensed IGA, real estate office and Australia Post outlet. The community bank branch in Cockatoo is run by the Bendigo Bank. There is a local vet at the other end of McBride St just over Pakenham Rd.

On the corner of McBride Street and Pakenham Rd, is the Casey- Cardinia Community Health Centre that also provides a number of low-cost services.

Cockatoo also has a community hall and a 12 seater community bus available for hire. Puffing Billy passes through, and there are plenty of bed & breakfasts around if you want to come and visit for a few days.  

The area is thriving with an amazing number of small businesses offering a vast array of services and products including many farms offering fresh locally grown produce including berry picking and wineries. See our Local Business Directory

Mount Burnett Observatory is located close to town with open days and night time viewing. Puffing Billy goes through town regularly and local residents are eligible for a Local Pass.