Nido Early School Hawthorn East Celebrates an Exciting New Chapter Ahead of Opening

Nido Early School Hawthorn East recently welcomed families, community members and special guests to celebrate a significant milestone in the centre’s journey, with a special opening event held ahead of officially welcoming their first children and families.

The evening began with a heartfelt Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony led by Wurundjeri Elder Thane Garvey. This meaningful ceremony acknowledged the Traditional Custodians of the land and set a respectful and reflective tone for the celebrations. It provided an opportunity to honour the rich cultural history of the site and recognise the importance of beginning our journey in partnership with Country.

Guests were then welcomed by Dr Monique Ryan MP, Federal Member for Kooyong, who joined the celebration to mark this important milestone for the local community. Drawing on her extensive career as a paediatric neurologist and children’s health advocate, Dr Ryan reflected on the value of high-quality early education and wished the team every success as they prepare to open their doors to Hawthorn East families. Her presence highlighted the excitement surrounding the service and its future contribution to the community.

Executive Service Manager, Cal Zwart, reflected on the journey to bring Nido Hawthorn East to life, acknowledging the dedication, collaboration and hard work of everyone involved in transforming the vision into reality. Cal expressed gratitude to the project teams, educators, support office teams, partners and families who have supported the project from concept to this exciting milestone.

A particularly meaningful moment of the evening was the presentation of keepsakes crafted from original tiles salvaged from the heritage-listed building. These symbolic gifts recognised the site’s rich history while celebrating its transformation into a place where future generations of children and families will create lasting memories.

The evening was made even more special by the attendance of former property owners, Andrew and Nayla, whose connection to the building spans more than 35 years. Their presence served as a powerful reminder of the site’s rich history and the care that has helped preserve its character over time. Having long shared a vision for the property to become a place supporting children and families, they expressed their joy in seeing it transformed into Nido Early School Hawthorn East, where a new chapter of learning, connection and community is about to begin.

Adding to the significance of the occasion, the team from Nido Early School Long Gully presented Hawthorn East with a Mandarin tree. The tree will be planted at the centre and nurtured alongside the children as the community grows, symbolising connection, growth and the exciting journey ahead.

The formal proceedings concluded with Nido’s cherished ribbon-cutting ceremony. In a special touch, the ribbon had been painted and decorated by children during Play and Stay sessions, reflecting the important role families have already played in shaping the emerging Nido Hawthorn East community.

Following the ceremony, guests had the opportunity to explore the thoughtfully designed learning environments and celebrate together. Many commented on the unique blend of heritage charm and contemporary design, creating a warm and inspiring space that will soon support children’s learning, wellbeing and sense of belonging.

A slideshow showcased not only the recent restoration and transformation of the property, but also historical photographs documenting the site’s story since 1908, alongside more recent memories created throughout its years of serving the local community. The display celebrated the rich history of the building while looking forward to its next chapter as a place dedicated to early learning, growth and connection.

The evening was a wonderful celebration of community, heritage and possibility. As Nido Early School Hawthorn East looks ahead to officially opening its doors, we are excited to welcome children and families into a centre that honours its past while creating opportunities for learning, belonging and lifelong memories. Together, we look forward to building a vibrant community where children can thrive and where, at Nido, every day matters.