# Pakenham

> suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

**Wikidata**: [Q2046587](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2046587)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakenham,_Victoria)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/pakenham

## Summary
Pakenham is a suburb and gazetted locality of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located within the Shire of Cardinia. Classified as a city, it serves as a major urban settlement with a population of 54,118 as recorded by the 2021 Australian Census.

## Key Facts
- **Location**: Situated in the Shire of Cardinia, Victoria, Australia.
- **Classification**: Instance of a city, gazetted locality of Victoria, and suburb.
- **Population**: 54,118 (2021 Census, preferred value); 46,421 (2016 Census).
- **Coordinates**: Latitude -38.0712, Longitude 145.4878.
- **Elevation**: 44 meters above sea level.
- **Postal Code**: 3810.
- **UN/LOCODE**: AUPKM.
- **Administrative History**: Formerly the capital of the Shire of Cardinia until November 17, 2014, when the capital was moved to Officer.
- **Electoral Districts**: Associated with the state districts of Gembrook and Bass, and the federal Division of La Trobe.
- **Borders**: Shares boundaries with Nar Nar Goon, Pakenham Upper, Nar Nar Goon North, Pakenham South, Officer, Officer South, and Beaconsfield Upper.
- **Statistical Geography**: Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) ID SAL22027 (2021), SSC22015 (2016), and SSC21063 (2011).

## FAQs
**Where is Pakenham located?**
Pakenham is a suburb of Melbourne located in the state of Victoria, Australia, specifically within the Shire of Cardinia. It is situated at coordinates -38.0712° latitude and 145.4878° longitude.

**What is the population of Pakenham?**
According to the 2021 Australian Census, Pakenham has a population of 54,118, an increase from 46,421 recorded during the 2016 Census.

**What is the administrative significance of Pakenham?**
Pakenham served as the capital of the Shire of Cardinia until November 17, 2014, after which the administrative center was moved to Officer. It is currently part of the state electoral districts of Gembrook and Bass, as well as the federal Division of La Trobe.

**What geographic areas border Pakenham?**
The suburb shares borders with several localities, including Nar Nar Goon, Pakenham Upper, Nar Nar Goon North, Pakenham South, Officer, Officer South, and Beaconsfield Upper.

## Why It Matters
Pakenham represents a significant growth corridor in the greater Melbourne area, evidenced by its population increase of nearly 8,000 residents between the 2016 and 2021 censuses. Its historical role as the former capital of the Shire of Cardinia highlights its longstanding importance in regional governance and infrastructure. The suburb's connection to multiple electoral districts at both the state and federal levels further emphasizes its relevance in the political landscape of Victoria.

## Notable For
- **Population Growth**: Experienced substantial growth from 46,421 (2016) to 54,118 (2021).
- **Administrative Transition**: Distinctly known for being the former capital of the Shire of Cardinia prior to 2014.
- **Geographic Connectivity**: Borders seven distinct suburbs and localities, serving as a central node in the Cardinia region.
- **Data Integration**: Heavily documented across global databases, featuring unique identifiers in systems ranging from Wikidata and GeoNames to the Yale Lux project.

## Body

### Geography and Location
Pakenham is defined as a suburb, city, and gazetted locality within the state of Victoria, Australia. It is administratively located within the Shire of Cardinia. Geographically, the area sits at an elevation of 44 meters above sea level, with precise coordinates placing it at -38.0712 latitude and 145.4878 longitude. The suburb is landlocked by several other localities, sharing borders with Nar Nar Goon, Pakenham Upper, Nar Nar Goon North, Pakenham South, Officer, Officer South, and Beaconsfield Upper.

### Demographics
The population data for Pakenham is derived from Australian Census records. In the 2016 census, conducted on August 9, 2016, the population was recorded at 46,421. By the time of the 2021 census (August 10, 2021), the population had risen to 54,118, which is listed as the preferred value. These statistics apply specifically to the suburb and locality boundaries defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

### Governance and Politics
Historically, Pakenham held the status of being the capital of the Shire of Cardinia. This status ended on November 17, 2014, when the capital was officially shifted to the neighboring suburb of Officer. In terms of electoral representation, Pakenham is associated with multiple districts. At the state level, it falls within the electoral districts of Gembrook and Bass. Federally, it is part of the Division of La Trobe within the Australian House of Representatives.

### Statistical Identifiers and Codes
Pakenham is cataloged under numerous identification systems used for geographic and administrative tracking:
*   **Postal Code**: 3810
*   **UN/LOCODE**: AUPKM
*   **SNARC ID**: 1435
*   **GeoNames ID**: 2153953
*   **GNS Unique Feature ID**: -1593662
*   **Who's On First ID**: 101940379
*   **OpenStreetMap Relation ID**: 2439154
*   **Freebase ID**: /m/02wbqq
*   **Yale Lux ID**: place/f7d07140-3ddf-4be4-9669-2d1bac2ecf79
*   **Encyclopedia of Melbourne ID**: EM01106b

The suburb is also tracked through the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) with varying codes over time:
*   **2011**: SSC21063, UCL212003
*   **2016**: SSC22015
*   **2021**: SAL22027

### Media and Knowledge Graph Presence
Pakenham has a significant presence in digital knowledge bases and encyclopedic resources. Its Wikipedia entry is titled "Pakenham, Victoria" and is available in 14 languages, including Cebuano, German, English, French, and Urdu. The entity is linked to a specific category on Wikimedia Commons ("Pakenham, Victoria") and has an associated aerial image hosted on the platform. It is classified under the "city" class in knowledge graphs, with a sitelink count of 14.

## References

1. [Source](http://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/SSC22015)
2. [Source](https://linked.data.gov.au/dataset/asgsed3/SAL/22027)
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. [Source](http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/SSC22015)
5. [Pakenham](https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/SAL22027)
6. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0
7. GeoNames
8. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/au.htm)