| Koo Wee Rup Victoria | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Aerial photo from the southwest | |||||||||||||||
 | |||||||||||||||
| Population | 4,047 (2021 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 3981 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 36 m (118 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
| ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Shire of Cardinia | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Bass | ||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Monash | ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Koo Wee Rup /ˌkuː ˌwiː ˈrʌp/ is a town and satellite suburb in Victoria, Australia, 63 km south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the Shire of Cardinia local government area. Built on former marshland now converted to market gardens, Koo Wee Rup recorded a population of 4,047 at the 2021 census.[1]
Prior to December 1994 the suburb was part of the Shire of Cranbourne.
The post office opened on 7 January 1891.[2]
In the early 1950s many Dutch and Italian families settled in the area. Prior to European settlement the area was occupied by the Bunurong Aboriginal people. It is from their language that the town's name derives. Ku-wirup is believed to mean "plenty of blackfish" or "blackfish swimming".[citation needed]
Koo Wee Rup is Australia's largest asparagus-growing district. It is also a beef-farming and potato-growing area. The town was previously well known for its potato festival, which was held each March to raise funds for the Westernport Memorial Hospital (now Kooweerup Regional Health Service).
Schools include Koo Wee Rup Primary School, St John the Baptist Primary School and Koo Wee Rup Secondary College.
The town has an Australian rules football team competing in the West Gippsland Football League.
- ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Koo Wee Rup (Suburbs and Localities)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
- ^ Phoenix Auctions History, Post Office List, retrieved 16 February 2021
