Skip to main content

Fern Street Children's Centre

The future is looking bright for families in Black Rock, as we deliver a new integrated children’s centre.

The new facilities will improve the accessibility, scope and integration of early childhood services in Bayside’s south.

Key features include:

  • A purpose-built centre for three-year old and four-year-old kindergarten
  • A multi-use room catering for occasional care and community group hire
  • A maternal and child health (MCH) consulting room
  • Children’s sensory garden connecting to FG Tricks Reserve
  • Senior’s exercise equipment within FG Tricks Reserve
  • Onsite car parking and landscaping improvements.

This project has been funded by Bayside City Council and supported by a Victorian Government Grant.

Draft of Fern Street Children's Centre image two
Draft of Fern Street Children's Centre image three

Our new children’s centre for local families.

Fern Street Children’s Centre will deliver a high-quality learning environment through three and four-year-old kindergarten. The centre will also provide occasional care, a space for community group hire and maternal and child health support services.

We have used community feedback to help shape the design and functionality of the new centre. The building will feature environmentally sensitive design in response to Bayside’s declaration of a climate emergency, the 2021-25 Council Plan and Council’s Sustainable Building and Infrastructure Policy. 

The site will be landscaped to provide a children’s sensory experience linking to FG Tricks Reserve. Also included in the development is space for 18 onsite car parking spaces and a vehicle turning circle to minimise the impacts on neighbouring residents as much as possible. 

The playground upgrade planned for FG Tricks Reserve will be delivered as part of Council’s Playground Improvement Plan as a separate project. The playground upgrade is anticipated to be delivered during Council’s 2024/25 budget.

Project funding

Council is investing $5.9 million towards the development, supported by a $1.6 million Victorian Government grant.

Project timeline

Construction of the new facility will commence in early September 2022 and be finalised by January 2024, ready for service commencement in 2024.


Project updates

Progress update – June 2023

We’re making fantastic progress at the Fern Street Children’s Centre. We’ve started landscaping and fencing around the building. Internally we’re painting and installing the wall linings and flooring. We’ll soon move on to the internal fit-out, and instal the joinery, light fixtures and fittings. Works are currently progressing to schedule, and the Centre is on track to open for Term 1 2024.

Temporary removal of swings - August 2023

A recent safety audit at FG Tricks Reserve has resulted in the temporary removal of playground swings while we complete the adjoining construction works at the Fern Street Children’s Centre.

The swings will be back in action once the construction fence has been removed. It is estimated the swings will be back in action by early October 2023, weather permitting.


Find out more about the project

Subscribe to receive email updates.

Your details

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.