Our History
Established in the early to mid-1940s, Estrella Preschool has a long and proud history.
Estrella Preschool has a rich and extensive history, originating in the early to mid-1940s within a residence on Dunlop Street, Ashburton, in association with the Church of Christ. Mrs. Searle served as the inaugural Director, supported by Mrs. Gibbons as her assistant.
In the mid-1950s, the Preschool relocated to the Church of Christ Hall on St Georges Crescent, Ashburton. An area was leased from Pastor Doug Sanders to facilitate early childhood education. Resources at this time were basic, lacking dedicated outdoor play equipment and child-sized amenities such as toilets and washbasins; the staff and children adapted to the available facilities.
A significant development occurred around 1958 when the Department of Health mandated that Mrs. Searle, a qualified teacher but not a specifically qualified kindergarten teacher, could no longer lead the kindergarten program due to new regulatory requirements.
Concurrently, a dedicated group of local parents initiated discussions with Mr. Eric Raven, a councillor with the then City of Camberwell (now Boroondara Council), regarding the establishment of a new preschool. In a generous gesture, the Council donated the current site for Estrella, a corner block of Watson Park. Mr. Reg Padey, an Albion Road resident and architect, designed the original plans, and the necessary permits were subsequently issued.
The Department of Health further supported this community initiative by offering a funding grant: for every £2,000 raised through local fundraising efforts, the Department would contribute an additional £1,000. This collaborative effort successfully raised approximately £16,000 for the construction of Estrella. Mr. Bob Shields, a prominent local builder, undertook the construction at a rate that aligned with the available grant funding.
The name ‘Estrella’, meaning ‘Star of the East’, was proposed by Mrs. Ryall. The Honourable Dick Hamer, then Health Minister of Victoria, officially opened Estrella Preschool in October 1958. Following its establishment, parents contributed plant cuttings from their personal gardens to landscape the Preschool grounds, laying the foundation for the beautiful garden space that exists today.
In more recent times, Estrella Preschool has become an integral part of the Boroondara Council’s network of community kindergartens. Having served as a formative educational institution for over 5,000 children across nearly eight decades, Estrella continues to be a cherished "special little corner of the world" for generations of families in Ashburton and its surrounding suburbs.
