Oakleigh, Victoria

Oakleigh Melbourne, Victoria
Looking toward Centro Oakleigh Shopping Centre and Railway Station
Oakleigh
Coordinates	37°54′47″S 145°06′07″E / 37.913°S 145.102°E / -37.913; 145.102
Population	8,442 (SAL 2021)[1]
Postcode(s)	3166
Elevation	65 m (213 ft)
Area	3.5 km2 (1.4 sq mi)
Location	14 km (9 mi) from Melbourne
LGA(s)	City of Monash
State electorate(s)	Oakleigh
Federal division(s)	Hotham
Suburbs around Oakleigh: Malvern East Chadstone Mount Waverley Hughesdale Oakleigh Oakleigh East Bentleigh East Oakleigh South Huntingdale

Oakleigh is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 14 km south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Monash local government area. Oakleigh recorded a population of 8,442 at the 2021 census.^[2]

Once a large independent city, Oakleigh was absorbed into Melbourne as part of the eastward expansion of the metropolis in the 1950s. As a result, it once had its own large historic Central Business District, its municipality in the former City of Oakleigh and its suburbs.

The area is traditionally known to have a strong Greek cultural influence, largely due to the influx of immigrants to Australia in the mid-20th century. Thirteen per cent of those living in the suburb speak only Greek at home.^[3]

Although the origin of the name of the suburb, "Oakleigh," is unclear, local historians have three main theories – that it was derived from she-oaks that grew near Scotchmans Creek; from "Oakleigh Park" an estate near Malvern Hills in England; or from Mrs Oakley, an early settler.^[4]