Windsor Community Children’s Centre has provided community-run early childhood education and care in various forms since 1977.

The Centre’s story reflects the changing history of community childcare, tertiary education and public ownership of the Union Street site, which has been dedicated to educational purposes since 1927.

Our Timeline

1927
The Victorian Government acquires the land at 131–133 Union Street, Windsor as part of a broader investment in public education in the Prahran and Windsor area.

1977
The Prahran College Union establishes the Prahran College Community Child Care Centre to support the childcare needs of students and staff.

1979
The Prahran College Community Child Care Cooperative is formed, opening the service to children from the wider community.

1980 to 1982
The Prahran College Community Child Care Cooperative takes responsibility of the childcare centre from the Prahran College Union. With the formation of Victoria College and Prahran College of TAFE, the Centre changes its name to Prahran Campus Community Child Care Cooperative.

1986
A government grant enables the Centre to relocate to Green Street and expand from 14 to 20 places.

1992 to 1996
Following the amalgamation of Prahran College of TAFE with Swinburne University of Technology, Swinburne and the Office of TAFE jointly fund the construction of a new purpose-built early childhood centre at 131–133 Union Street.

1997
The Centre relocates to its new purpose-built premises at Union Street and becomes the Swinburne Prahran Community Children’s Centre Cooperative.

2013
Ownership of the Union Street property transfers from the Victorian Government to Swinburne University of Technology, with Swinburne becoming the registered proprietor of the site.

2013
Following the closure of Swinburne University’s Prahran campus, the Centre becomes an independent, community-managed not-for-profit organisation. It continues operating from the Union Street site under lease from Swinburne University and by 2015 is renamed Windsor Community Children’s Centre.

2024 to 2026 – Save WCCC
When Swinburne University announces its intention to sell the Union Street property, parents, educators and community members establish the Save WCCC campaign to secure the Centre’s long-term future. They fight for over 2 years and against all odds and are successful in keeping the land in public ownership and WCCC as a community run, not for profit service open. 

Read more about The Save WCCC campaign.

2026
Swinburne University of Technology sells the site to the City of Stonnington with WCCC continuing to operate from the site under a new lease. 

Onwards

WCCC continues to welcome new families and looks forward to sharing the next chapter of its story with you.