Twenty-five candles on a cake were blown out by Wakatipu Kindergarten children on Thursday to mark the centre's quarter century.
The kindergarten - the first in the Wakatipu - was officially opened on October 28, 1989, initially catering for 60 children and increasing to 80 the following year.
It was the culmination of a three-year community effort which eased overflow problems for playcentres.
Government subsidies amounted to 80% of the $220,000 building cost and 33% of the building equipment, with the shortfall raised by the community.
At the kindergarten on Thursday were Jenny Bell, Gill Wikstrom and Ken Gousmett, all members of the establishment committee.
Mr Gousmett said most of the fundraising was done by Queenstown Rotary members, who built a house in a day at Kelvin Heights and sold it at auction for about $250,000.
The kindergarten, built on land owned by the Queenstown borough council, was designed by ''up and coming architect'' Michael Wyatt.
''I remember coming up here [to the site] with Nancy Williams - it was a gravel pit.
''It wasn't very pretty, but it was facing the sun, it had a view of the Remarkables and it overlooked the primary school.''
Head teacher Sally Hogg, who has worked at the kindergarten since it opened, said it was a ''great achievement'' to mark 25 years.
''It's thanks to the community really - this community is amazing for supporting education; it's fantastic.''
The kindergarten held its major fundraiser on Friday night - the annual bottle auction - which this year raised about $10,000 which would go towards items not funded by the Ministry of Education.
Mrs Hogg said funds raised this year would go towards a playground upgrade.
''We've had lots of additions over the years - that's why we continue to fundraise to just keep improving the programmes and the learning environment.
The kindergarten now had a roll of about 65 children, aged 3 or 4, with room for more.
