[4] Prior to European discovery, the Patterson Lakes area was populated by Indigenous Australians known as the Kulin people.

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.

[6] A commemorative plaque near the mouth of Kananook Creek marks the location of where Charles Grimes and his party went ashore searching for fresh water, and met with approximately 30 local inhabitants.

Early development was hampered by poor soils, distance from the Melbourne city centre, and the existence of a major swamp occupying much of the area between Mordialloc and Seaford.

It was to be known as 'Patterson Cut' and had been named after a State Parliamentarian and commissioner for public works - Sir James Brown Patterson.

Other occupants of the area were the Priestly family who had landholdings either side of the Patterson River and ran a marina just east of what is now Pier One Drive.

The mouth of the Patterson Cut was mostly only open during the winter months, so heavy spring and summer rains often caused flooding to properties on the edge of the swamp area.

The Cowboys rode on footpaths and were often riding too fast at the beach, which would lead to a number of complaints from local residents.

If it proved to be feasible and practicable, it would give home owners access to Port Phillip from their "back door".

By using this fine, dense, carefully compacted sand, all the proposed residential sites would be brought to a level above that required by the authorities.

Also the project was "different", in that more than a hundred non-lake, residential sites were created to further the concept of a new community having a mix of socio-economic groups.

The closest private secondary school to Patterson Lakes is the Cornish College in Bangholme and Haileybury in Keysborough.

[27] In 2020 Independent councillor, Cameron Howe was elected to represent Patterson Lakes that forms a part of Banskia ward in the City of Kingston.

[29] Patterson Lakes is in the District of Carrum in Victoria's Legislative Assembly, represented since 2014 by Labor MP Sonya Kilkenny.

In many cases, Patterson Lakes is one of the first suburbs of the Greater Melbourne area to feel the effect of the cool weather change that occurs during the summer season.

Aquatic species include the striped marsh frog, water rat, platypus, bream, flathead, tupong, Australian salmon, leatherjacket, yelloweye mullet, silver trevally, black crab, spider crab, eel, bass yabbies, mussels and pippies.

Bird species include the nankeen (rufous) night heron, white-faced heron, chestnut teal, straw-necked ibis, pacific black duck, pacific gull, silver gull, magpie-lark, Australian pelican, little pied cormorant, royal spoonbill, masked lapwing, whiskered (marsh) tern and the caspian tern.