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An independent, community-owned and managed, heritage listed kindergarten set in large grounds.
Contact details
Address: 2A Minona Street, Hawthorn 3122
Phone: (03) 9818 1063
Email: [email protected]
Website: Robert Cochrane Kindergarten website
Visit the kindergarten: Visit our Open days for kindergartens page for information about the annual open day in May or contact the kindergarten to arrange a time to visit.
About Robert Cochrane Kindergarten
Robert Cochrane Kindergarten is a community run kindergarten, with over 100 years of history, located in the heart of Hawthorn.
The kindergarten runs exciting play-based sessions for 3 and 4-year-old groups, within beautifully maintained grounds. Experienced and highly regarded educators run a program with a strong sustainability and community emphasis, where parents and families within the kinder community are actively involved.
Learn more about the centre's staff, programs, facilities and philosophies on the Robert Cochrane Kindergarten website.
2026 provisional session times
3-year-old kindergarten program
Koala group
This program offers 13 hours of free kinder per week. Subject to demand, there is also optional extended hours for the Koala children.
| Day | Free kinder hours | Optional extended hours |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | 8:30 am to 3 pm | None |
| Friday | 8:30 am to 3 pm | 3 to 5 pm |
Possum group
This program offers 13 hours of free kinder per week. Subject to demand, there is also optional extended hours for the Possum children.
| Day | Free kinder hours | Optional extended hours |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 8:30 am to 3 pm | 3 to 5 pm |
| Wednesday | 8:30 am to 3 pm | None |
4-year-old kindergarten program
Emu group
This program offers 15 hours of free kinder per week and 4 hours and 30 minutes of optional additional hours.
Subject to demand, a further 6 optional extended hours are available for the Emu group.
| Day | Free kinder hours | Optional additional hours | Optional extended hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 8:30 am to 1:30 pm | 1:30 to 3 pm | 3 to 5 pm |
| Thursday | 8:30 am to 1:30 pm | 1:30 to 3 pm | 3 to 5 pm |
| Friday | 8:30 am to 1:30 pm | 1:30 to 3 pm | 3 to 5 pm |
Wombat group
This program offers 15 hours of free kinder per week and 4 hours and 30 minutes of optional additional hours.
Subject to demand, a further 6 optional extended hours are available for the Wombat group.
| Day | Free kinder hours | Optional additional hours | Optional extended hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 8:30 am to 1:30 pm | 1:30 to 3 pm | 3 to 5 pm |
| Tuesday | 8:30 am to 1:30 pm | 1:30 to 3 pm | 3 to 5 pm |
| Thursday | 8:30 am to 1:30 pm | 1:30 to 3 pm | 3 to 5 pm |
2026 fees per term
The Victorian Government Free Kinder initiative is available at this kindergarten. Concession rates are not applicable.
3-year-old kindergarten program:
- Koala free kinder hours (13 hours per week): Free
- Possum free kinder hours (13 hours per week): Free
4-year-old kindergarten program:
- Emu free kinder hours (15 hours per week): Free
- Wombat free kinder hours (15 hours per week): Free
- Optional additional hours (4 hours and 30 minutes per week): $630
3- and 4-year-old optional extended hours (3 pm - 5 pm all days except Wednesdays):
- Term 1:
- 3-year-old (starts week commencing 23 February): $186 per session
- 4-year-old (starts week commencing 16 February): $217 per session
- Term 2 (3-and 4-year-old): $310 per session
- Term 3 (3-and 4-year-old): $310 per session
- Term 4 (3- and 4-year-old): $341 per session
Please note: optional extended hours for term 1 commence on the dates listed above. For all other terms, optional extended hours will commence at the beginning of each term.
Voluntary costs
- 3-year-old: $830 per year
4-year-old: $880 per year
2025 session times
3-year-old kindergarten program
Koala group
This program offers 12 hours of free kinder per week. Subject to demand, there is also optional extended hours for the Koala children.
| Day | Free kinder hours | Optional extended hours |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | 9 am to 3 pm | None |
| Friday | 9 am to 3 pm | 3 pm to 5 pm |
Possum group
This program offers 12 hours of free kinder per week. Subject to demand, there is also optional extended hours for the Possum children.
| Day | Free kinder hours | Optional extended hours |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 9 am to 3 pm | 3 pm to 5 pm |
| Wednesday | 9 am to 3 pm | None |
4-year-old kindergarten program
Emu group
This program offers 15 hours of free kinder per week and 3 optional additional hours. Subject to demand, a further 6 optional extended hours are available for the Emu group.
| Day | Free kinder hours | Optional additional hours | Optional extended hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 9 am to 2 pm | 2 pm to 3 pm | 3 pm to 5 pm |
| Thursday | 9 am to 2 pm | 2 pm to 3 pm | 3 pm to 5 pm |
| Friday | 9 am to 2 pm | 2 pm to 3 pm | 3 pm to 5 pm |
Wombat group
This program offers 15 hours of free kinder per week and 3 optional additional hours. Subject to demand, a further 6 optional extended hours are available for the Wombat group.
| Day | Free kinder hours | Optional additional hours | Optional extended hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 9 am to 2 pm | 2 pm to 3 pm | 3 pm to 5 pm |
| Tuesday | 9 am to 2 pm | 2 pm to 3 pm | 3 pm to 5 pm |
| Thursday | 9 am to 2 pm | 2 pm to 3 pm | 3 pm to 5 pm |
2025 fees per term
The Victorian Government Free Kinder initiative is available at this kindergarten. Concession rates are not applicable.
3-year-old kindergarten program:
- Koala free kinder hours (12 hours per week): Free
- Possum free kinder hours (12 hours per week): Free
4-year-old kindergarten program:
- Emu free kinder hours (15 hours per week): Free
- Wombat free kinder hours (15 hours per week): Free
- Optional additional hours (3 hours per week): $465
3- and 4-year-old optional extended hours (3 pm - 5 pm all days except Wednesdays):
- Term 1:
- 3-year-old (starts week commencing 24 February): $186
- 4-year-old (starts week commencing 17 February): $217 per session
- Term 2 (3- and 4-year-old): $341 per session
- Term 3 (3- and 4-year-old): $279 per session
- Term 4 (3- and 4-year-old): $341 per session
Please note: optional extended hours for term 1 commence on the dates listed above. For all other terms, optional extended hours will commence at the beginning of each term.
Voluntary costs
- 3-year-old: $880 per year
- 4-year-old: $936 per year
Rating against the National Quality Standard
Early childhood education and care services are assessed and rated against the National Quality Standard (NQS) to:
- promote continuous improvement in the provision of quality education and care
- improve knowledge and access to information about the quality of services to help families make informed decisions about their child’s education and care.
See Robert Cochrane Kindergarten's rating against the NQS and learn more about the rating and assessment process on the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority website.
Note: These details have been provided by Robert Cochrane Kindergarten. For the most up-to-date information, visit the Robert Cochrane Kindergarten website.