Patterson Lakes

Patterson Lakes Melbourne, Victoria
Middle Harbour, Patterson Lakes Marina
Patterson Lakes
Coordinates	38°04′34″S 145°07′19″E / 38.076°S 145.122°E / -38.076; 145.122Coordinates: 38°04′34″S 145°07′19″E / 38.076°S 145.122°E / -38.076; 145.122
Population	7,582 (2011)
• Density	1,805/km2 (4,680/sq mi)
Established	1978
Postcode(s)	3197
Elevation	4 m (13 ft)
Area	4.2 km2 (1.6 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10)
Location	35 km (22 mi) from Melbourne 9 km (6 mi) from Frankston
LGA(s)	City of Kingston
State electorate(s)	Carrum
Federal Division(s)	Isaacs
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 18.6 °C 65 °F 11.6 °C 53 °F 525 mm 20.7 in
Suburbs around Patterson Lakes: Bonbeach Chelsea Heights Bangholme Carrum Patterson Lakes Sandhurst Seaford Seaford Carrum Downs

Patterson Lakes is located in outer south-east Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. The canal suburb is located 35 km south-east of Melbourne's central business district. Its local government area is the City of Kingston. In the 2011 Census Patterson Lakes had a population of 7,582 people.

Patterson Lakes consists predominantly of new houses, and is home to the most popular boat launching facilities in Victoria. The Patterson River is a popular portal for Port Phillip. It includes four public launching ramps; joins the Tidal Canal system to Port Phillip; and includes the Patterson Lakes Marina and its facilities in Middle Harbour and Inner Harbour.

After the melting of the last great ice age, sea levels were 1–2 metres higher than today. When sea levels subsided to their current levels, fresh water from the Dandenong Ranges flowed into low-lying regions. Carrum Carrum Swamp, an extensive wetlands ecosystem was created, an area encompassing some 5000 hectares from Mordialloc to Frankston and inland towards Dandenong.

Prior to European discovery, Patterson Lakes was populated by Indigenous Australians known as the Kulin people. Inhabitants in the area were from the Bunurong language group, of the Mayone-Bulluk clan. Both the Mayone-Bulluk and Ngaruk-Willam clans would meet in the area of Dandenong often to hold ceremonies and trade. These gatherings were often attended by guests from other Bunurong clans or from neighbouring tribes, such as the Wathaurung and the Wurundjeri clans from the Woiwurong. As with most indigenous people of the world, Mayone-Bulluk cultural, ceremonial and spiritual life was dictated by the seasonal availability of natural resources. Through thousands of years of observation Bunurong People were able to predict the availability of their seasonal resources by certain changes in plant growth and animal behaviour.