We completed refurbishment works at the North Balwyn Seniors Centre, also known as the Marwal Centre, in July 2023. We undertook these works to improve accessibility and amenity for older adults using the facility for programs that promote social connection, which is beneficial for good health.

The centre, located at 9 Marwal Avenue in Balwyn North, has supported older residents in the Balwyn North area for over 40 years.

The property is Council-owned and leased to BASScare (Boroondara Aged Services Society) who are a local not-for-profit aged care provider. BASScare delivers a range of services, social support programs and community activities. In addition to BASScare’s use of the building, two large senior groups meet at this location each week.

About the project

The refurbishment works involved:

• improved accessibility both to the building entrance and within the building
• a new reception area in the foyer
• refurbished activity spaces including new furniture, and new floor and window coverings
• improved energy efficiency with upgrades to lighting
• general building maintenance, including external painting
• minor external works and works on the area for accessing the car park.

Council delivered the project with support from the Victorian Government’s Living Local Fund.

More information

For more information about the refurbishment works, you can contact us on (03) 9278 4777.

Suitable for large social gatherings, children's play, AFL, cricket and outdoor fitness training. 

Lush open spaces with tall trees provide a fantastic atmosphere with plenty of shade.

Lynden Park features:

• 2 sportsgrounds 
• 3 synthetic cricket pitches
• cricket nets with 3 lanes

Summer sports schedule

The East and West ovals at Lynden Park host numerous sports across the summer and winter seasons. When training or matches are taking place, the ovals must be cleared to ensure the safety of all players, pets and visitors.

The summer season runs from 1 October 2026 to 30 March 2027. 

Macleay Park features:

• 4 sportsgrounds
• 2 soccer pitches
• 3 synthetic cricket pitches
• 1 turf cricket pitch
• cricket nets with 5 lanes
• a pavilion
• 8 netball courts (managed by the Boroondara Netball Association).

We’re working on a redevelopment plan for Macleay Park. Read more about the Myrtle and Macleay Parks Master Plan.

Summer sports schedule

The ovals at Macleay Park host numerous sports across the summer and winter seasons. When training or matches are taking place, the ovals must be cleared to ensure the safety of all players, pets, and visitors.

• Oval 1 is known as DS Bull Oval.
• Oval 2 is west of DS Bull Oval.
• Oval 3 is west of the Boroondara Netball Association.
• Oval 4 is managed by the Boroondara Netball Association and isn't included in the schedule.
• Oval 5 is west of Buchanan Avenue.

The summer season runs from 1 October 2026 to 30 March 2027. 

Boroondara Netball Centre

The Boroondara Netball Association manages the Boroondara Netball Centre at Macleay Park, under a license agreement with Council.

To find out more about the centre or to hire the centre, email [email protected] or visit the Boroondara Netball Association website.

A kindergarten with a long-standing reputation for supporting children's needs.

About The Merrell Kindergarten 

This kindergarten is well resourced with educational supplies and equipment and has an imaginative and natural outdoor play environment including a cubby house, mud-digging patch, vegetable and herb garden, worm farm, and bird and butterfly-attracting plants. 

Communication, collaboration and planning between teachers and families are a focus. The kindergarten also has strong links to neighbouring schools.

The Merrell Kindergarten is managed by Early Childhood Management services (ECMS).

Learn more about the centre's staff, programs, facilities and philosophies on their website.

Wicket, the therapy dog

The Merrell Kindergarten program includes a therapy dog who attends every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

The children learn empathy as they begin to care for Wicket and understand that they can help to look after his needs. They learn to be gentle with him. Wicket is happy and very social and loves pats from the children and sitting amongst them to listen to stories and take part in the general program.

There is general agreement that dogs boost positive emotions and reduce anxiety levels in children. Wicket provides unconditional acceptance of the children and always enjoys their attentions.

Wicket is a non-shedding labradoodle and is considered a hypo-allergenic breed. Wicket is fully vaccinated and bathed regularly. Wicket is a fully certified therapy dog and is a popular member of the kindergarten.

2027 provisional session times

3-year-old kindergarten program

Echidnas group

This program offers 15 hours of free kinder per week.

Echidnas - multi-age

This program offers 15 hours of free kinder per week.

Multi-age groups bring together children aged 3 to 5 years old. Children in multi-age groups will develop friendships and engage in learning just as they would in same age settings with the added bonus of being able to access peer support and lead learning for other children. These opportunities offer children the opportunity to develop more sophisticated social skills.

4-year-old kindergarten program

This rotational and multi-age program offers 15 hours of free kinder over 2 days.

Multi-age groups bring together children aged 3 to 5 years old. Children in multi-age groups will develop friendships and engage in learning just as they would in same age settings with the added bonus of being able to access peer support and lead learning for other children. These opportunities offer children the opportunity to develop more sophisticated social skills.

Wombat group 1

Wombat group 2

Wombat group 3

2026 session times

3-year-old kindergarten program

Echidnas group

This program offers 15 hours of free kinder per week.

4-year-old kindergarten program

This rotational program offers 15 hours of free kinder over 2 days.

Wombat group 1

Wombat group 2

Wombat group 3

2026 and 2027 fees per term

The Victorian Government Free Kinder initiative is available at this kindergarten. Concession rates are not applicable.

• 3-year-old kindergarten program (15 hours per week): Free
• 4-year-old kindergarten program (15 hours per week): Free.

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 The Merrell Kindergarten Inc.'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 The Merrell Kindergarten Inc. For the most up-to-date information, visit the The Merrell Kindergarten Inc. website.

A family-oriented kindergarten that believes in 'learning through positive play'.

About Boroondara Preschool

Established in 1952, Boroondara Preschool is a family-oriented Preschool where they believe in “learning through positive play”.

This approach shapes the play-based education program that the passionate staff develop to support the interests of individual children. 

2026 and provisional 2027 session times

3-year-old kindergarten program

Wombat group

This program offers 15 hours of free kinder per week.

4-year-old kindergarten program

Platypus group

This program offers 15 hours of free kinder per week and an optional 4 hours and 30 minutes of additional hours.

2026 and 2027 fees per term

The Victorian Government Free Kinder initiative is available at this kindergarten.

3-year-old kindergarten program:

• Wombat free kinder hours (15 hours per week): Free

4-year-old kindergarten program:

• Platypus free kinder hours (15 hours per week): Free
• 2027 Platypus additional hours (4.5 hours per week): $615 full or $310 concession.
• 2026 Platypus additional hours (4.5 hours per week): $600 full or $300 concession.

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 Boroondara Preschool'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 were provided by Boroondara Preschool. For the most up-to-date information, visit the Boroondara Preschool website.

Please note: We are planning to renew Bellevue Kindergarten in 2027 to provide a high-quality learning facility for our community. While works are underway, 3- and 4-year-old kindergarten programs will be temporarily relocated to the former Balwyn Leisure Centre at 230 Balwyn Road, Balwyn. Find out more on our Bellevue Kindergarten renewal page.

A kindergarten that values play-based learning guided by ‘belonging, being and becoming’.

About Bellevue Kindergarten

Bellevue Kindergarten offers 3-year-old and 4-year-old programs with sessions running simultaneously.

2027 provisional session times

3-year-old kindergarten program

Caterpillar group

This program offers 15 hours of free kinder per week. Subject to demand additional hours may be offered on Tuesday from 11:45 am - 2:45 pm for an additional fee.

4-year-old kindergarten program

Butterfly group

This program offers 15 hours of free kinder per week and 3 optional additional hours.

2027 fees per term

3-year-old kindergarten program

• Caterpillars group (15 hours per week): Free
• Tuesday - additional 3 hours: $500 per term/$50 per week

4-year-old kindergarten program

• Butterfly group (15 hours per week): Free
• Thursday - additional 3 hours: $500 per term/$50 per week

Deposit

•  Enrolment deposit: $300. This is refundable upon commencement.

2026 session times

3-year-old kindergarten program

Caterpillar group

This program offers 15 hours of free kinder per week.

4-year-old kindergarten program

Butterfly group

This program offers 15 hours of free kinder per week and 3 optional additional hours.

2026 fees per term

3-year-old kindergarten program

• Caterpillars group (15 hours per week): Free

4-year-old kindergarten program

• Butterfly group (18 hours per week): includes 15 hours of free kinder plus 3 optional additional hours at $500 per term.

Deposit

•  Enrolment deposit: $300. This is refundable upon commencement.

Voluntary contributions

• Voluntary payments: $300 per term. 

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 Bellevue 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 were provided by Bellevue Kindergarten. For the most up-to-date information, visit the Bellevue Kindergarten website.