Iconic Kelly’s Place Children’s Centre given the boot by North Sydney Council

For local parents Ben Worrall and Aoife Gannon, choosing a daycare for their firstborn was a big decision. While other centres might have had a fresher coat of paint, Kelly’s Place, in Crows Nest, was a no brainer for them. 

“When you get in there and meet the educators, meet the kids, it's such a happy, positive place … we haven’t looked back”, Worrall told the Lorikeet. Their son has now just begun his 2nd year at Kelly’s Place.

But last week the couple received devastating news: the longstanding childcare centre will soon have its lease terminated so that the area can be redeveloped.

What happened: For years, the future of the 38-year-old childcare centre has hung in the balance. 

According to Director Katie Newton, the centre has always been aware of council’s plans to redevelop the Hume Street area of Crows Nest into a park, and were happy to work collaboratively to relocate the centre. 

• Plans for the expansion of Hume Street Park into a larger pedestrian area have been in motion since 2012.

But with the lure of state government funding for the redevelopment on the table, the North Shore council now wants the ball rolling and the childcare centre out. In a meeting in late February, they told the centre’s committee that the council-subsidised lease would be terminated before the end of the year.

The lease was previously extended by 12 months, with the hope that a suitable alternative location could be found. In that time, Newton claims the council failed to show them any suitable options.

• “The sites [we were shown] would need significant renovation and DA approval — we know that can take up to 2 years,” said Newton.

What makes it special? The Kelly’s Place centre runs on a not-for-profit, community model. This means the governing body of the centre is a committee made up of both parents and carers.

• Worrall told the Lorikeet that while the Kelly’s Place’s prices are similar to for-profit centres in the area, they are able to provide a much higher quality service, maintain a higher carer-to-child ratio than mandated, and run on a parent-led model.

• He says many of the staff have their own kids enrolled at the centre.

Now what: For Worrall and Gannon, along with the 50 other families enrolled at the centre, the news means disruption for both children and parents.

“We’re worried we won't get the same quality of care… we worry that we won't be able to get a place for four days a week… either me or my partner will likely have to take days off work”. 

“There's so much institutional knowledge in this place … I don't think that can be replaced.”

Thumbnail: Google Maps, Kelly’s Place