A former church on the corner of Milton Road and Wienholt Street in Auchenflower has been transformed into a fun childcare centre with its own 15-metre indoor slide and outdoor play spaces. Little Locals opened on 9 Nov 2020 to a host of families whose children have been enjoying and settling into their new daycare space.
The family-owned business is Little Locals’ sixth site and will be managed by Sophie Jones, who has 10 years of experience in early education. The facility may accommodate up to 120 children, from ages 6 weeks to 12 years old, who will be cared for, guided and supervised by 30 experienced educators.
Much of the church’s structure has been retained in planning the unique facility, including its stained glass windows, archways and exposed rafters. The old blends with the new as the centre boasts of creative play areas like a water park, racetrack and trampoline.
All over the centre are murals painted by artist JR Ellis, which depicts the wildife of Mt Coot-tha.
“Our centre encourages children to develop a bond with the natural environment through gardening, sorting and participating in a green program which shows respect for the natural world,” the owners said in a statement.
Director Eric Grindley-Ferris revealed that slots for 2021 are slowly filling up, with fees averaging from $134.50 to $139. These prices include lunch and excursion activities.
Residents initially objected to the childcare facility’s construction due to the noise and traffic that could disrupt the homes in the area. Little Locals built acoustic fences and agreed that the outdoor play areas will close by 6 p.m. Mr Grindley-Ferris said that street parking will be avoided since they have 26 underground parking spots.