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The City of Greater Geelong is inviting Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from qualified not-for-profit and charitable early years organisations to manage and lease the Yirrama Community Hub.

The City of Greater Geelong, in partnership with the Victorian Government, is building the Yirrama Community Hub located on the corner of Amber Avenue and Precinct Road in Charlemont.

The Yirrama Community Hub will be a purpose-built integrated facility designed to provide a central, accessible space for local families and community groups within Armstrong Creek’s Horseshoe Bend Precinct in Charlemont, on Wadawurrung Country.

Construction commenced in June 2025 with the hub scheduled to open in January 2027. It will feature kindergarten services, maternal and child health, allied health, and multipurpose community spaces, creating a vibrant and inclusive environment for the community.

The hub is co-located with the new Yirrama Primary School (opening in 2026), offering families the convenience of a single drop-off point.

The City of Greater Geelong is seeking a qualified not-for-profit or charitable early years and community-focused organisation to lease and activate the Yirrama Community Hub as a vibrant, integrated, and inclusive space for the community. This opportunity includes delivering essential early childhood services, while creating a welcoming hub that supports social inclusion, community connection, and wellbeing.

As part of this arrangement, the successful organisation will also be required to make designated community spaces within the hub available for community use through hire and booking arrangements, ensuring the facility serves as a shared resource for local groups and residents.

Located in one of Victoria’s fastest-growing communities, the Yirrama Community Hub will offer vibrant, inclusive spaces that deliver high-quality education, health, and community programs designed to:

• support collaboration across services
• strengthen connections with Yirrama Primary School and other key local assets
• provide flexibility to meet the evolving needs of a growing population
• promote a strong sense of belonging and community engagement.

Through a partnership with the City, the selected operator will help bring this shared vision to life, delivering long-term benefits for residents and families.

Yirrama Community Hub

The hub has been purpose-designed to support early years services and community programs that target all ages, offering modern, flexible spaces to reflect changing needs over time, which include:

• Four kindergarten rooms (licensed for 132 places)
• Three maternal and child health consult suites (to be operated by the City)
• Large multipurpose community rooms with courtyard access
• Community kitchen
• Small and medium meeting rooms for local groups and activities
• On-site car park and bike parking for easy access
• Green spaces for gathering, play, and outdoor activities

This thoughtfully designed facility provides the ideal environment to deliver high-quality early childhood education and health services, while creating a vibrant hub for community connection.

The hub draws on the Wadawurrung story of Parrwang, the magpie, to create a space rooted in culture, care, and community.

“Deeply listen as the sun rises – you will hear the magpies tell us their name, Parrwang.”

Design features include:

• A timber canopy referencing magpie nests high in the biyal (red river gum)
• A forecourt shaped with garden beds and seating, encouraging pause and social connection
• Interior palette reflecting local sclerophyll forest habitats with earthy tones and natural materials
• A calm, inviting space designed for learning, nurturing, and gathering

This narrative and design were developed in partnership with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners, acknowledging and embedding cultural knowledge into the heart of the community.

In addition to submissions, the City also welcomes feedback from the community regarding its intention to enter into a lease with the successful applicant.

We recommend reviewing the proposal and vision for the site prior to providing a submission or feedback. Both submissions and feedback can be submitted through the links below.