Cockatoo is a town in Victoria, Australia, 48 km south-east of Melbourne's central business district, located within the Shire of Cardinia local government area. Cockatoo recorded a population of 4,408 at the 2021 census. Cockatoo is named after Cockatoo Creek, which runs through the town, and which the town was previously named. History Cockatoo was named after Cockatoo Creek. It was first settled in the 1870s but progress was tardy as the land was difficult to clear. A Post Office was not opened until 1 November 1901 when the railway arrived and was known as Cockatoo Creek until 1917. Shortly after the end of the World War I, a large number of immigrants went to live in Cockatoo while working in Melbourne. The most significant wave was made by Italians. Timbergetting was the major source of employment and this industry received a considerable boost when the narrow-gauge railway from Upper Ferntree Gully to Gembrook was completed in 1900. Moreover, the railway brought leisure-seeking Melburnians into the area and a market for subdivision arose. The railway is operated today as the Puffing Billy Railway. Cockatoo was one of the worst-hit townships during the disastrous 1983 Ash Wednesday Bushfires, where over 300 buildings were destroyed and 6 lives lost. Present day Cockatoo has a community shopping centre which includes supermarket, hairdressing salon, smokehouse, pharmacy, yoga studio, opportunity shop, cafés and various takeaway stores. Cockatoo has recently built a town centre garden square with the assistance of local government. Services The Cardinia Shire Council provides a mobile library service at the McBride Street carpark on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. The town has a community garden site on the Pakenham Road reserve growing various fruit and vegetables. Cockatoo Primary School, near the town centre, recently celebrated its centenary. Other services in the town include: Kindergartens Youth & Health Centres Bendigo Bank Branch Licensed Post Office Church Charity Store Country Fire Authority (CFA) Station RSL Club Child Care Centre Veterinary clinic Community organisations Cockatoo Neighbourhood House Hills Community Gardens Men's shed Sporting Cockatoo has two main sporting areas: Mountain Road reserve, which has a football oval, netball courts, indoor YMCA Stadium and Little Athletics Course; and Bailey Road tennis courts. The Josie Bysouth reserve is a smaller ground mainly used for equestrian events and pony club. The main sport of the town is Australian Rules Football with the Gembrook-Cockatoo Football Club or "Brookers" representing