Melbourne's Iraqi community

The City of Banyule is located between 7 and 21 km north east of Melbourne. 21 suburbs make up Banyule including Bundoora, Heidelberg and Ivanhoe. Banyule is a great place for those wanting an active lifestyle with plenty of cycling paths, walking tracks, open spaces and parklands for residents.

The City of Bayside is located in the south east of the centre of Melbourne and includes several suburbs near Port Phillip Bay such as Brighton, Beaumaris and Sandringham. Over 90,000 residents reside in Bayside with the average age being 42. Bayside is full of activities and sights such as some of the best beaches in Melbourne, sports clubs and regular community events.

The City of Boroondara is one of the oldest and most culturally diverse areas of Melbourne, made up of suburbs such as Hawthorn, Camberwell and Kew. Nearly 30 per cent of residents were born overseas and we can trace their heritage back to more than 150 different countries. Boroondara has many restaurants, markets and shopping areas and is easy to get around with a reliable tram network.

The City of Brimbank is the second largest municipality in metropolitan Melbourne, covering 25 new and established suburbs including Albion, Sunshine and Taylors Lakes. Brimbank is a culturally diverse area with excellent schools, leisure centres and parks. Brimbank also has a vibrant arts scene with regular exhibitions and public art spaces. 

The Shire of Cardinia is located on Melbourne’s south eastern edge, connecting metropolitan Melbourne with the rural areas beyond. Cardinia is divided into three wards that make up its townships and suburbs such as Pakenham, Beaconsfield and Koo Wee Rup. Cardinia holds festivals, awards ceremonies and regular community events throughout the year.

The City of Casey is one of the fastest growing municipalities in Australia with nearly 300,000 residents. Located in Melbourne’s south east, 27 suburbs make up Casey including Berwick, Narre Warren and Lynbrook. Casey has plenty of modern shopping precincts and is full of places to visit such as Myuna Farm, the Old Cheese Factory and the Wilson Botanic Park.

The City of Frankston is located south east of Melbourne beside Port Phillip Bay and covers 10 suburbs including Carrum Downs, Seaford and Langwarrin. The western boundary of Frankston is formed by about 10 km of pristine coastline. Beyond the beaches, Frankston residents enjoy the Indoor Peninsular Regional Aquatic Centre, markets and shopping, and the annual Sand Sculpting exhibition on the Frankston Waterfront.

The City of Glen Eira covers about 38 km2 of Melbourne’s inner east and 15 suburbs, including Bentleigh, Caulfield and Glen Huntly.

With a population of nearly 150,000, Glen Eira’s Gross Regional Product is valued at A$5.3 billion (representing 1.5% of Victoria’s Gross State Product). Residents of Glen Eira enjoy a calendar full of regular community events, parks, gardens and galleries.

The City of Greater Dandenong is located in Melbourne’s south east and is made up of 10 suburbs including Springvale, Dandenong and Noble Park. Greater Dandenong is one of Melbourne’s most multicultural areas with residents from over 150 birthplaces. Around 60 per cent of residents were born overseas and nearly two thirds of residents speak languages other than English at home. Greater Dandenong is full of restaurants, shopping centres and activities that your family will enjoy.

The City of Hobsons Bay is located south west of Melbourne, hugging Port Phillip Bay and covering suburbs like Altona, Laverton and Williamstown. The major seaport of Williamstown is a major attraction with beaches, shops and restaurants. Hobsons bay caters for its residents with many playgrounds, sports grounds and cultural projects.

The City of Hume is located at metropolitan Melbourne’s northern fringe, just 15 km from the centre of Melbourne. Hume has a rich history of cultural diversity and today includes residents from more than 160 countries living across 27 suburbs like Broadmeadows, Craigieburn and Tullamarine. Melbourne International Airport is located in Hume and is one of the municipality’s largest employers.

The City of Kingston is located 20 km south of the centre of Melbourne and is home to some of Victoria’s most beautiful beaches, world class golf courses and stunning wetlands. Over 15,000 businesses are spread across Kingston’s suburbs including Moorabbin, Mentone and Cheltenham. Locals love to shop at Southland Shopping Centre. They also benefit from the close proximity to the city, and the great parks and playgrounds available throughout the area.

Located at the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges to the east of Melbourne, the City of Knox covers 114 km2 of area including suburbs such as Bayswater, Ferntree Gully and Rowville. 20 per cent of residents are from non-English speaking backgrounds and there are over 15,000 families with children under 15 years of age. Locals like to use the modern playgrounds, learn at Knox’s several libraries and shop in the area’s many shopping centres.

The City of Manningham is located in Melbourne’s north east and covers 12 suburbs including Doncaster, Templestowe and Nunawading. With over 300 parks and reserves, Manningham’s 120,000 residents like to engage in outdoor activities. Manningham also has shopping and dining precincts, galleries and many bike trails.

The City of Maribyrnong is located west of Melbourne and is the smallest and most densely populated municipality in Metropolitan Melbourne. Maribyrnong is made up of nine suburbs including Footscray, Seddon and Braybrook, and has a population of over 80,000 residents. Maribyrnong locals enjoy the City’s Aquatic Centre, the festivals that are regularly held and the many sports clubs available.

The City of Maroondah is located east of Melbourne and is made up of 13 suburbs including Ringwood, Croydon and Heathmont. Blending both city and country lifestyles, residents in Maroondah enjoy the shopping, recreation and education opportunities available in Maroondah. This area is close to both the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges. 

The City of Melbourne is the centre of Victoria’s business, administrative, cultural and recreational activities. On average, over 850,000 people visit the city centre every day and each year Melbourne hosts over a million international visitors. Nearly 50 per cent of Melbourne’s residents were born overseas, making Melbourne one of the most multicultural areas of Victoria. Locals love the constant activity in the city and the easy transport to some of Australia’s most iconic locations like the MCG, the National Gallery of Victoria and several of Melbourne’s universities.

The City of Melton is located west of Melbourne and is one of the fastest growing areas of Australia with 11 new suburbs now proposed to be added to the City. Over 130,000 people live in the City of Melton in suburbs such as Caroline Springs, Diggers Rest and Rockbank. The City of Melton’s population has more than doubled since 2003 and the annual growth rate is 4 per cent – the largest growth rate in Victoria.

The City of Monash is a culturally diverse community in Melbourne’s south east with 11 suburbs including Glen Waverley, Oakleigh and Mulgrave. 45 per cent of Monash residents were born overseas and the City provides nearly 120,000 jobs – making it the second largest employment destination after Melbourne’s Central Business District. Monash residents enjoy an array of restaurants and shopping centres, community centres and regular community events.

The City of Moonee Valley located next to Melbourne on its north west side and covers suburbs such as Essendon, Strathmore and Ascot Vale. With a population of over 100,000, 27 per cent of residents were born overseas. Moonee Valley is home to people of many faiths including Islam, Hindu and Christianity. Locals enjoy the City’s leisure centres, parks and regular festivals.

The City of Merri-bek is located north west of Melbourne, covers 50 km2 and includes 14 suburbs such as Brunswick, Coburg and Pascoe Vale. Many Merri-bek residents speak Italian, Arabic and Mandarin at home with more than a third of residents born overseas. With its strong mix of manufacturing and commercial activity, the City of Merri-bek  attracts people for its employment opportunities and inner city lifestyle.

Only an hour’s drive from Melbourne, the Shire of Mornington Peninsula is located south east of the city centre and includes the suburbs of Dromana, Hastings and Arthurs Seat. The Mornington Peninsula is a popular tourist destination and outing for all locals in Melbourne. The Gross Regional Product of the area is over $6 billion and provides 42,000 jobs to its residents. Locals love the world class beaches, recreation centres and famous wineries.

The Shire of Nillumbik is located less than 25 km north east of Melbourne and covers an area of 431 km2, including the suburbs of Diamond Creek, Plenty and Kangaroo Ground. With over 300 hectares of nature and recreation reserves, residents enjoy the many outdoor spaces available. Nillumbik locals also enjoy the annual festivals held in the Shire.

The City of Port Phillip is located immediately south of Melbourne and hugs Port Phillip Bay. Covering suburbs like Port Melbourne, South Melbourne and St Kilda, residents enjoy the bustling nightlife and dining scene in Port Phillip. Bay Street, Clarendon Street, Fitzroy Street, Acland Street – these are among Melbourne’s most fashionable streets filled with world class cafes and restaurants.

The City of Stonnington is located south east next to Melbourne and covers some of Melbourne’s most prestigious suburbs such as Toorak, South Yarra and Prahran. With a population of over 100,000, Stonnington has a young population with a median age of 35 and the top five non-English speaking languages are Greek, Mandarin, Cantonese, Italian and Hindi. Stonnington is famous for its fashion scene on Chapel Street.

The City of Whitehorse is located just 15 km east of Melbourne covering suburbs such as Blackburn, Box Hill and Burwood. Around 17 per cent of residents are aged 65 years or over, higher than the Melbourne average, and households with children make up 43 per cent of the population. Whitehorse is famous for its tree lined, leafy streets. Whitehorse has a large Chinese population with 7.3 per cent of residents born in China.

The City of Whittlesea is located north of Melbourne and is one or the largest municipalities in Melbourne, covering suburbs such as Epping, Thomastown and South Morang. 70 per cent of Whittlesea is rural. The City is one of the fastest growing municipalities in Australia, welcoming around 8,000 new residents every year. South Morang achieved the status of Australia’s fastest growing suburb for the last 10 years. Over 40 per cent of residents speak a language other than English at home.

The City of Wyndham is located on the western edge of Melbourne and features 27 km of beautiful coastline. Some of Wyndham’s suburbs include Point Cook, Hoppers Crossing and Little River. Wyndham is experiencing population growth of 5.1 per cent a year and growth is forecast to remain strong for the next 25 years. Wyndham has a range of iconic sights and activities to do, such as Werribee Park Mansion, Victorian State Rose Garden and Werribee Open Range Zoo.

The City of Yarra is located next to the City of Melbourne on its north east side and includes the suburbs of Collingwood, Richmond and Fitzroy. Yarra is home to a diverse community of over 80,000 people and Gross Regional Product of A$9.5 billion. There are plenty of things to see and do in Yarra and residents love the good quality schools, inner city lifestyle and bustling nightlife. 

The Shire of Yarra Ranges is located at the east of Melbourne and is a diverse mix of urban and rural communities. Some of Yarra Ranges’ suburbs include Belgrave, Chirnside Park and Coldstream. Yarra Ranges covers about 2,500 km2 and stretches from the densely populated outer suburbs to the forested areas of the Great Dividing Ranges. Around 70 per cent of the population live in rural areas, and the Shire includes over 10,000 businesses and employs more than 35,000 people. Each year more than 2 million tourists visit the Yarra Ranges Shire.