Cairnlea is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 17 km (11 mi) north-west of Melbourne's central business district, located within the City of Brimbank local government area.

The creeks have been home to healthy populations of native reptiles for thousands of years, including Tiger snake, Eastern blue-tongued lizard and Eastern brown snake.

Due to development of lakes and wetlands, species of frogs have reclaimed the area.

Due to the former industrial use as an explosives factory, the land was highly contaminated.

Part of that process has seen two endangered species (the Plains Rice-flower and the Striped Legless Lizard) having reserves and management plans set up for their preservation.