History

Collaroy Plateau Progress Hall in which Collaroy Plateau Community Kindergarten resides was built in 1953 under the guidance of Collaroy Plateau Progress Association.

Collaroy Plateau Progress Association had been formed to work for improvements in the area and for the welfare of residents.

Collaroy Plateau Community Kindergarten came into existence as Plateau Playcentre Kindergarten in 1954 as a privately run centre. Plateau Playcentre was sold to Collaroy Plateau Progress Association in early 1971.

On 2nd February 1971 the kindergarten officially became known as Collaroy Plateau Community Kindergarten and changed from a privately owned kindergarten to a non-profit Community run kindergarten with one of the advantages being that the kindergarten would be entitled to State Government subsidies.

Many renovations of the building occurred over the ensuing years including renovations that necessitated the kindergartens’ temporary move to a local church for 14 weeks. The kindergarten recommenced in the Progress Hall at the start of 1973 where it has remained ever since.

Due to declining membership of the Collaroy Plateau Progress Association it was decided to transfer ownership of Collaroy Plateau Progress Hall to Warringah Shire Council. The transfer was conditional, amongst other things that the Collaroy Plateau Community Kindergarten be encouraged to continue as main tenants of the Hall. Warringah Council accepted the donation of the Collaroy Plateau Progress Hall on 17th November 1987. The hall was finally sold to the council in 1992 for $1.00.

Today Collaroy Plateau Community Kindergarten continues to operate as a not-for-profit community based preschool running a preschool program for children aged 4-5 years. The premises continues to be leased from Warringah Shire Council.

Each year there are parents enrolling their children at the kindergarten who were once CPCK children themselves.

The kindergarten is managed by a Management Committee made up mainly of parents of children who attend the kindergarten. The day to day running of the kindergarten is undertaken by the Director and team of 10 other permanent staff. Our staff continue to be a very dedicated team, with the current 11 staff having collectively been working at the kindergarten for over 86 years.

Click on the picture below to read our 50th anniversary book that has more on the history of our preschool:

60th Anniversary

Collaroy Plateau Community Kindergarten (CPCK) celebrated their 60^th Anniversary on Sunday 14^th September 2014 with an Open Day and Anniversary celebrations.

We were very fortunate to have a visit from Warringah Mayor Michael Regan, who addressed the attendees with a fabulous speech that demonstrated his understanding of a community managed preschool and impressive skills in communicating with one of the children who presented him with an artwork.

Our Treasurer also dedicated a wooden rocking chair bench in recognition of Topsy Harris.  Topsy began an early education service for local children in 1954 in the current preschool building.  Topsy’s nephew Greg was on hand for the dedication.