Dandenong, VIC local guide

Located 30km south-east of Melbourne’s CBD, the City of Greater Dandenong sits at the base of Mount Dandenong.

A major manufacturing and commercial area, Dandenong is one of the largest business centres outside central Melbourne. It’s a highly multicultural city, with more than half the population born overseas and a particularly large Indian community.

The name Dandenong was apparently adapted from an Aboriginal word meaning "lofty mountains" and refers to the Dandenong Ranges — a series of low mountains — which overlook the area. The city was first settled by Europeans in the 1830s for cattle grazing, and the red gum forests led to an important timber mill opening in the area.

One of the most striking buildings in town today is the Drum Theatre, a redevelopment of the original Dandenong Town Hall built in 1880. It was transformed into a performing arts centre with a 525 seat theatre in 2006. Its red roof is visible from much of the city.

Other highlights include The Walker Street Gallery, which hosts a range of exhibitions from leading Australian artists to internationally acclaimed children’s book illustrators. It carries new exhibitions every month.

Popular tourist spots include Heritage Hill, which dates back to 1864 and features century old buildings and two acres of landscaped gardens. The Wonders of Dandenong Walking Tour highlights the city’s heritage including its Aboriginal history. The nearby Dandenong Ranges are popular for its scenic drives and lookouts, B&Bs and the Puffing Billy Railway.

The famous Dandenong Markets were established over 135 years ago and are one of Victoria’s oldest markets. It has over 300 stalls of fresh produce, clothing and other goods. Other shopping areas include Dandenong Plaza, a large shopping centre featuring over 160 specialty stores, and Springvale Shopping Precinct, one of Melbourne’s best shopping strips for Asian goods and restaurants.

Dandenong is currently undergoing a $290 million redevelopment in a 20 year plan aimed at attracting more people and businesses to the area.