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Camberwell Community Centre reopens to offer all services under one roof

Article posted: May 27, 2021

Camberwell Community Centre president Margaret Rogers.

Following a major redevelopment, Camberwell Community Centre has reopened in a new building and, for the first time, offers all its services under the one roof.

Centrally located in Fairholm Grove, Camberwell, the centre is a boon for local residents as it offers a range of affordable classes, workshops and facilities.

The new centre now includes flexible, multi-purpose spaces for programs and activities, dedicated facilities for art and pottery classes, an early parenting centre, and an outdoor garden and courtyard. The building also has an improved sustainability rating, is wheelchair accessible, and offers on-site parking.

The centre is now home to Camberwell Maternal and Child Health, which provides maternal, early parenting and child health services.

Programs available at the centre include painting and calligraphy classes, pottery workshops, and health and wellness classes such as yoga and tai chi.

The centre, which has been operating for more than 45 years, facilitates many groups and clubs such as multicultural gatherings, cards and games groups, book clubs, and a film society. Meeting rooms are available to rent at affordable prices too.

According to Boroondara Council, the centre was redeveloped to meet the growing needs of the local community, and now offers “a larger and better configured” building to accommodate all the centre’s activities and programs.

The centre’s president Margaret Rogers said the new building was an asset to the Camberwell community.

“With the community growing in the last ten years, with the influx of migrants and also retirement villages being built up… this is a centre for them. And this is the first time we’ve been able to have everything under the one roof,” she said.

Ms Rogers said Camberwell Community Centre gives people an inclusive space to meet friends and connect with others.

“It’s a welcoming, friendly, non-judgemental place that people can come to, and it’s somewhere that they can improve their mind and body.”

Kerry Daly, manager of the Camberwell Centre Traders Association, said Camberwell Community Centre perfectly complements the shopping precinct.

“People can easily visit Camberwell Community Centre to enjoy a class or use a service, then pop over to the shopping precinct to grab some groceries or run errands,” she said.

“But importantly, the centre gives people in our community a safe space to connect, where they can learn new skills or gather over common interests, and that is a huge benefit for the area.”