By Bonny Burrows
House prices in Cockatoo have boomed in the past year due to the popularity of its local primary school, with a report ranking it in the nation’s top 10.
Cockatoo Primary School, nested in the picturesque Dandenong Ranges, was featured in the Domain School Zone Report earlier this month, where it was listed as the fifth most sought after school in the state and the eight in Australia.
Ranking behind Victorian inner suburban schools in Glenferrie, Glenhuntly, Albion and Box Hill, the school was listed for its contribution towards the area’s property market hike of 28.20 per cent in the past year.
According to the property publication, the median house price in the hill’s community was up from $527,500 in October 2015 to $676,000 in October 2016.
In its report, Domain stated house price growth was usually reported based on capital cities and suburbs.
“But when school catchment zones are overlayed with Domain’s property market data, it paints a whole new picture of price trends that may be useful if you’re a parent at this stage of your life property journey,” it stated.
Cockatoo Primary School principal Darrelyn Boucher said it was good news for the school and broader community.
“The community is buzzing the students are buzzing. Everyone is proud of themselves and rightly so,” Ms Boucher said.
Founded in 1907, the school currently has 250 students, with the majority being from the Cockatoo township.
Enrolments continue to grow each year, with Ms Boucher crediting the school’s success to its dedicated teachers and its reputation for care.
“Our staff are always asking for feedback. It’s outstanding their determination to continue to improve,” Ms Boucher said.
“They are always going the extra mile to create a caring safe learning environment for our children.”
She said she hoped the media coverage would encourage others to consider Cockatoo as a place to call home.
“It’s really beautiful and such a tight-knit community. What more could you want?” she said.
