Kowhai Valley Creche will now open three days a week in the Glenorchy School grounds from January 27 with a full complement of 36 preschoolers.
The centre stems from a $25,000 feasibility study several years ago which proved the demand for the service.
This year then saw a huge collaborative effort to make it happen.
Builder and trustee Damian Orman spearheaded a major in-kind renovation and reconfiguration of the playgroup premises to make it fit for purpose.
Simultaneously, playgroup and creche treasurer Chloe Geoghegan tapped a number of groups and parents for funding towards the upgrade, licensing costs and resources.
"Early childhood education is a proven way to mitigate negative impacts for children and whanau, and this is what our community needs now," she says.
Trust chair Philippa Hasselman acknowledges support from the playgroup committee, Glenorchy School, the council and MoE.
"There are a multitude of benefits to operating on school land, so we are grateful for their support.
"Without the overhead of commercial rent, we can offer early childhood education that is affordable for everyone."
Orman says the creche "makes Glenorchy a little more desirable for those young families now because it was always something that put people off".
It’ll also serve the town till a planned larger centre opens, he adds.
His wife, Leah Orman, an experienced early childhood education, will be the creche’s head kaiako, supported by a second kaiako, relievers and parent help.
The creche’s name comes about as Glenorchy was once a thriving kowhai valley.
