Childcare, Kinder & Early Learning in Melbourne Inner City
From Collins Street in the CBD to Northcote, Richmond and Prahran, our eight inner-city Melbourne centres keep your child close to home or work. Each welcomes children from 6 weeks to 6 years, and most are open 6:30am to 6:30pm on weekdays.
Find Your Centre
Enter your postal code or suburb below to find a Guardian Centre in your area.
Room to Play, Right in the City
Inner-city centres make the most of every space. Guardian Collins Street is large and purpose-built, and each open-plan room opens onto its own outdoor yard. Abbotsford and South Melbourne have rooftop gardens, and at South Melbourne children tend plants of their own.
Beyond the gate, the city becomes part of the learning, from libraries and parks to the people and places children see each day. And with your child near home or work, there’s less time travelling and more time together.
The Guardian Approach
Every Guardian centre is built on four things.
To BE Me is our own learning program. It follows your child’s interests and stage, from the nursery through to kinder, and shows you how their play connects to their development.
Safety+ is how we keep children safe. Personal phones and devices stay out of learning spaces, dedicated Safety Champions lead safety in our centres, and doors open with codes we update regularly.
Nutrition for Life starts in our kitchen. Our Chef prepares five fresh meals a day on site, and children are encouraged to try new flavours and build healthy eating habits for life.
Flying Start to School is our kindergarten program for children aged 3 to 5, led by qualified Teachers.
Child Care Subsidy and Fees
Many families are eligible for the Australian Government’s Child Care Subsidy (CCS), which reduces your out-of-pocket fees. Each centre’s page shows its daily fees and an estimate of what you might pay after CCS. Our daily rates are all inclusive, covering meals, nappies and wipes, and all excursions and incursions.
Three and four-year-olds may also receive up to 15 hours a week of Free Kinder from the Victorian Government, on top of CCS. Explore our Family Guide to CCS or estimate your costs with our CCS Calculator.
Preparing Your Child for School
In Victoria, the first year of school is Prep. Our Flying Start to School kindergarten program builds the confidence, early literacy and numeracy your child will carry into it. It follows the Early Years Learning Framework, and because it runs within long day care, your child keeps the same Teachers all year, school holidays included.
Frequently Asked Questions
What times are Guardian’s inner-city Melbourne centres open? 
Most are open 6:30am to 6:30pm, Monday to Friday: Lemon Tree in Carlton, Northcote, Westgarth, Richmond and South Melbourne. Abbotsford is open 7am to 7pm, Prahran 7am to 6pm, and Collins Street 7:30am to 6:30pm.
How do Free Kinder and the Child Care Subsidy work together?
The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) reduces out-of-pocket childcare costs for most families, based on income, recognised activity and hours of care. Free Kinder is separate Victorian Government funding of up to 15 hours a week for three and four-year-olds, and it applies on top of any CCS you receive. Our team can talk you through what your family may be eligible for.
At what age does a child start school in Melbourne?
In Victoria, children can start Prep at the beginning of the school year if they turn 5 by 30 April that year. Children born after 30 April usually start the following year. Our Flying Start to School program prepares children aged 3 to 5 for that move.
What makes Guardian different from other Melbourne childcare providers?
Four things. To BE Me, our own learning program. Safety+, our approach to keeping children safe. Nutrition for Life, with five fresh meals a day from our onsite Chef. And Flying Start to School, our kindergarten program led by qualified Teachers.
How do I choose between your inner-city Melbourne centres?
Each has its own character. Collins Street is a large CBD centre where every room opens onto its own yard. Abbotsford has a rooftop garden with open views. Lemon Tree in Carlton sits in a historic building with small group sizes and a large outdoor space. At Northcote, children play the playground pianos and watch trains roll past. Westgarth’s learning exchange board shows you what’s happening in each room. Prahran is small, with a long-standing team and rooms refreshed in 2024. Richmond has two atelier spaces, and South Melbourne has a Level 3 outdoor play area and a rooftop garden. Book a tour to see which feels right for your family.