By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
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DANDENONG’S Little India business precinct should be becoming a bigger India – at least in population terms, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2011 census figures released last week.
Indian-born residents in Greater Dandenong have almost tripled since 2006, rising from 3826 to 10,010. Australian-born resident numbers rose slightly from 50,701 to 51,611.Vietnam is the second-most common overseas country of birth with 11,737 residents. India is third.
But businesses in Little India say they have not felt a commensurate rise in trade. They say the once-popular shopping strips have become deserted since Revitalising Central Dandenong works began in the area two years ago.
DJ Baba, who runs 12-year-old business Baba Entertainment, said he was forced to change careers to real estate.
Although there was a brief spike in activity during a Bollywood Festival in April, business had since dived, he said. “My friend, it’s getting worse by the day here. People don’t want to come here, especially on weekdays.”
He noticed the bulge in the Indian-born population settling in Dandenong and Endeavour Hills but many of them were travelling to Clayton or Hallam to shop. “It could be thriving here again once the works are fixed up.”
Overall, Greater Dandenong’s population grew by more than 10,000 between 2006 and 2011. Residents are living in more townhouses or semi-detached houses (up by 449) and apartments (up by 444) and fewer separate houses (down 588).
Median weekly incomes have risen by $183 a week, but sit $281 less than the national average. Rents are up $90 a week to $250 – about $35 less than the Australia-wide median.
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