Life in the ’burbs: Narre Warren South
Having grown up in Rowville, a place where public transport was sorely lacking, there were no obvious negotiables for me when it came to moving away. The first thing I did was take out a map and draw a ring around the Metro train lines, highlighting stations less than an hour from the city.
I then narrowed my search to suburbs that were within a 10-minute drive of these stations but not too far from where I grew up. This is how I discovered Narre Warren South.
My husband had grown up in nearby Endeavor Hills and we had shopped or gone to the cinema at Fountain Gate Shopping Center in Narre Warren many times, so the area wasn’t completely unfamiliar. Narre Warren South looked like Narre Warren’s younger, safer, fresher cousin; It was more suburban than industrial and more affordable than where we grew up.
My first move was a rental located in a quiet residential area between the marshlands of the Hallam Main Drain and the sprawling acre blocks along Shrives Road. About two years later, my husband and I bought our first home, a modest three-bedroom, one-bath house just off Pound Road that fit our budget perfectly. We have remained in the area ever since and are raising our young family here.
The name has Boonwurrung origins, but it is disputed whether Narre Warren means “little hills”, “red soil” or “no good water”. The full name of my suburb is a bit of a mouthful, so it’s affectionately called Narre South.. It is split in half by the unimaginatively named Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road. On the west side (my side), you’ll find a lively mix: original farming families hoping to redivide on large blocks, new immigrants and young families drawn by affordable housing and green spaces, and tenants struggling to make it.
The east side has a different atmosphere. Those living around Berwick Springs Lake prefer to think of themselves as living in the suburb of Berwick Springs, even though such a place does not officially exist. When the lake was renamed Guru Nanak Lake in 2024, in memory of the founder of Sikhism, many were not happy about it, to say the least. As protest signs went up everywhere, others took it upon themselves to remove them, revealing just how proud locals are of their unofficial suburb.
One of the best things about Narre South are the green spaces, wetlands and hiking trails. The Gum River Valley trail (when not flooded) and the hills of the Pound Trail are popular with runners and cyclists. The parks come alive in the summer months. Families gather late, children fill playgrounds, and couples stroll with strollers at dusk. These public spaces are more than recreational, they are community centers.
Of course, not everything is idyllic. Illegal dirt bikes plowing through wetlands and the occasional burned-out stolen car near the dog park remind us of suburbia’s rough edges.
The Casey Crime Page on Facebook paints a dramatic picture, but the truth is more nuanced; a blend of security, growth and courage. A complaint about a car burning on the page could help offset a group of young teenagers using gym equipment in the park, or a group of expat fathers playing an informal game of cricket in an open field.
Young children walking the streets after school are not “looking for trouble”; Because their mothers and fathers work, they feel safe enough to walk around peacefully on their way home from school. Last week two rowdy boys bumped into me in the shops and their miserable apologies of “I’m sorry ma’am! You idiot, apologize” warmed my heart.
But that’s not what’s making the headlines; The more you follow crime pages, the more your perception of crime in the area seems to increase. But when you turn off the screens and look around, there is so much more to Narre South.
The real heart of Narre South is Amberly Park Drive, just above the train station and Westfield Fountain Gate. This modest shopping area is home to a local IGA, Paul Sadler Swimland (where half the suburb’s kids learn to swim), and a number of shops, including Indian restaurant Arya, a hidden gem.
At 3pm on weekdays, the area takes on a completely different look as Narre Warren South P-12 College students flock in, buy snacks from the IGA and wait to board the bus or be picked up. P-12 is one of Victoria’s largest and most tightly bounded public schools, but it is also one of the most diverse, with a multitude of programs and welfare services that a smaller school would struggle to provide.
The local CFA team is another pillar of the community. I met them under tragic circumstances in 2016 when our original house burned down. Their quick response saved our valuables and one of our pets. They recently defended their Amberly Park store following a fire at the Ocean Bites fish and chip shop.
Ten years, a house fire, rebuilding and three children later, we still ask ourselves: Will we stay in Narre Warren South forever? The green spaces, train access and local shops that drew us here remain. Our children grew up attending local child care centers and formed close bonds with educators who were also part of the community.
When my oldest started K-12 school, he was the only one of his kind going to school. Other parents quietly asked if I was happy with this choice. Many chose private or religious schools, perhaps influenced by the school’s reputation or the diversity of its student body. Preparatory kick-off sessions are held in both English and Dari, reflecting the multicultural nature of the suburbs. While language barriers can make play dates difficult, the kids themselves don’t seem to realize this, apart from the love of football shared through the AFL.
I often think about the communities where my husband and I grew up; where parents meet each other at the school gates, children cycle between houses and mothers volunteer in the canteen. Narre South is different but no less. CFA, weekly Parkrun and families gathering at sunset show that the community here is alive and well; and in a new way.
That’s why we’re in place for now. As our children grow we look forward to discovering even more of what Narre Warren South has to offer.
Jess Burke is a marketing consultant in Narre Warren South who is raising three children with her husband.
Jess Burke is a marketing consultant in Narre Warren South who is raising three children with her husband.
