Kindy Cove is turning 50, and the community is invited to the party on Friday 30 October, 4 pm – 6.30 pm, at 48 Phoenix Street, Lane Cove.
For half a century, Kindy Cove has been where many of Lane Cove’s youngest residents make their first friends, paint their first masterpieces and take their first steps into learning. The celebration falls on the anniversary of the centre’s opening, and it is a chance to thank everyone who has been part of its story: today’s children and families, past students (now all grown up), former educators and the wider Lane Cove community.
Registration is free but essential, as places are limited, so register via Eventbrite.
Five decades of first friendships
Kindy Cove has been owned and operated by Lane Cove Council since day one. In 1975 a local committee identified the need for a childcare centre in Lane Cove, and Council secured federal government funding to build one. The centre opened its doors in 1976 as the Lane Cove Child Care Centre, and took on the name Kindy Cove around 1996.
Over those 50 years it has cared for around 60 children a day, up to around 2,200 individuals in that time! Many families have stayed for the long haul; “I think 11 or 12 years has probably been the longest we’ve had a family with us,” says Director Megan McDermid, who has led the centre for 26 years.
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The Kindy Cove story is now reaching a second generation. “We’ve got a family currently where mum was a student in the 90s, and she’s come back with her kids now,” Megan says. Past students have also returned for prac placements, work experience and Duke of Edinburgh community service.
Megan has seen big changes across the sector in that time. The national assessment and rating system has lifted quality across early childhood education, and new child safety standards have reinforced that children’s wellbeing comes first. Families’ working lives have changed too, with longer hours driving strong demand for Early Education and Care, and the Lane Cove community has become far more multicultural.
“A child’s first five years are the most critical and intensive learning of their whole lifetime,” Megan says. “We recognise it’s an absolute privilege to be part of their journey, working with families as they transition off to big school.”
A little oasis off Phoenix Street
Today Kindy Cove cares for children from six weeks to six years old, Monday to Friday, 7.30 am – 6 pm. Families know it for its leafy, natural setting, with plenty of trees and natural surfaces in the outdoor play spaces.
Megan says the centre’s multicultural mix of staff and families is another of its strengths. “That diversity is wonderful for the learning and education of the children, as well as for families to learn about the people in the world around us.”
But above all, she credits the team. “The staff are what make the service what it is,” she says. “Their commitment, their professionalism and their dedication to the children and families is our greatest strength.”
Asked for her favourite moments, Megan doesn’t hesitate. “The look of delight on a child’s face when they arrive in the morning to see what’s happening for the day, or them not wanting to leave at the end of it,” she says.
“That’s a sign they’ve been in the thick of everything, putting their whole mind and body into play, which is how they learn. And the conversations you have with children always make you smile.”
Join the birthday party
The celebration is open to the whole community, and Kindy Cove especially hopes to welcome back former families, students and staff. “We’d particularly love ex-families, students and staff to come back and pop in for the afternoon,” Megan says.
On the day
- Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony
- Unveiling of new entrance sculptures by First Nations artist collective Gwiyaala Aboriginal Art
- Birthday cake cutting, music, entertainment and craft activities, including bubble blowing and a collaborative art project marking the milestone
- A display of 50 years of Kindy Cove photos and memories
Event details
- When: Friday 30 October 2026, 4 pm – 6.30 pm
- Where: Kindy Cove, 48 Phoenix Street, Lane Cove (enter via the main Phoenix Street entrance)
- Cost: Free
- Registration: Essential, as places are limited. Register each adult and child attending via Eventbrite.
Good to know
- Parking nearby may be limited, so allow extra time. Street parking and the Little Street car park are available a short walk away.
- For safety, current students and their parents will need to sign out of the service for the day before signing back in for the party.
- Photos and video will be taken on the day. Let the team know if you or your child would prefer not to be photographed. Kindy Cove will not post photos of children publicly.
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