The centre opened in February 2010, with one room, 20 children and two teachers, and had gradually expanded in both room numbers and children.
Now the centre is licensed for 73 children and its manager, Debs McKerchar, said more than 100 families would now come through the centre, considering some children attended only three days a week.
"Now people can actually make a decision on where they want their children to go.""If you want Montessori you can get that, if you want a religious focus you can get that, and if you want something else on offer, you can get that, too."
Mr Hughes bought the Robins Rd building in 1997.
It was used first as a language school, which he still owns and shifted to the O'Connells shopping centre, when he ventured into the early education industry.
"A couple of years ago, I couldn't get a space for my daughter, so I just opened my own.
"I was always puzzled as to why there was an Arrowtown Montessori and not a Queenstown one."
An environmental and self-sufficiency focus were hallmarks of the Montessori-style of early education.
Mr Hughes said his confidence lay in the knowledge in the Montessori philosophy.
"They [parents] really need to read a blurb on what is going on with their [children's] little brains _ the triggers that are being pushed ...
"How it differs from a place that's just looking after the kids is we are educating the kids."
The children had their own kitchen and prepared their own meals, often using produce from the school's garden, which provided fresh walnuts, pears, plums and apricots in season.
Ms McKerchar said the children grew "all their own vegetables and fruit" and they were "forever harvesting the fruits of their labour".
The centre is seeking to alter its council-authorised operating hours, which allow it to stay open only until 4pm.
Some parents are unable to have their children attend because their work commitments extend past that time.
Mr Hughes said the centre was proposing to stay open until 5.45pm.
