A kindergarten with stimulating and adaptable indoor and outdoor play areas.

About Canterbury and District Preschool

A kindergarten where children are encouraged to show initiative, make decisions and develop problem solving skills. The curriculum is both play-based and child-initiated with a mixture of creative sensory, scientific and imaginative learning experiences. 

The 4-year-old program features a specialist sports program, as well as weekly music and movement sessions. The outdoor playground has climbing frames, obstacles courses, a vegetable garden and spaces for imaginative play.

Learn more about the centre's staff, programs, facilities and philosophies on the Canterbury and District Pre-school website.

2026 session times

3-year-old kindergarten program

Kookaburra group

This program offers 15 hours of free kinder per week.

4-year-old kindergarten program

Kangaroo group

This program offers 15 hours of free kinder per week.

Kangaroo bouncers 

This program offers 15 hours of free kinder per week and 7 hours and 30 minutes of optional additional hours.

Koala group

This program offers 15 hours of free kinder per week.

Koala climbers

This program offers 15 hours of free kinder per week and 7 hours and 30 minutes of optional additional hours.

Platypus group

This program offers 15 hours of free kinder per week.

Platypus paddlers

This program offers 15 hours of free kinder per week and 7 hours and 30 minutes of optional additional hours.

2026 fees per term

3-year-old kindergarten program

• Kookaburra group (15 hours per week): Free

4-year-old kindergarten program

• Kangaroo, Koala and Platypus groups (15 hours per week): Free
• Kangaroo bouncers, Koala climbers and Platypus paddlers (22 hours and 30 minutes per week): includes 15 hours per week free kinder and $1000 per term in fees.

2026 deposit

Enrolment deposit: $600. Refundable upon commencement.

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 Canterbury and District 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 have been provided by Canterbury and District Preschool. For the most up-to-date information, visit the Canterbury and District Preschool website.

Suitable for picnics, social gatherings, weddings and other celebrations.

About the gardens

Surrey Gardens is a heritage listed park established in 1917.

William Guilfoyle, a well-known landscape architect, consulted on the garden design. He also designed the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria.

Historical features

‘Brooks’ Babies’

Two cannons from around 1843 stand at the eastern edge of the site, flanking the 'Shrine.' They were originally at Canterbury Sports Ground and moved here in 1919.

Known as Brook's Babies, they were purchased in 1901 by Arthur 'Empire' Brooks to mark the end of the Boer War. Some believe they were used in the Crimean War. 

Arthur Brooks and John Gray were among founding members of the revived and influential Surrey Hills Progress Association in 1906.

John Gray Memorial Rotunda

A band rotunda (bandstand), known as the John Gray Band Rotunda, originally stood in the Surrey Gardens. Completed in 1912, it was often used by The Surrey Hills Brass Band who performed concerts there from 1918. 

In 1920, the rotunda was enclosed to accommodate the new Surrey Hills Baby Health Centre before a purpose-built baby health centre was added on the northern edge of the gardens in 1930.

The bandstand was eventually removed in 1973. A plaque honouring the former secretary of the Surrey Hills Progress Association, John Gray, is located where the original rotunda once stood.

The current rotunda was built in 2021.

The Dimmick Gateway

Built in 1950, the entrance to the garden’s honours William Dimmick, a former Councillor (1934-1947) and Mayor of Camberwell (1935-1936).

World War 1 memorials

Shrine War Memorial

Surrey Gardens is one of the first places in Australia to feature a First World War memorial

The shrine was erected in 1918 and includes an honour roll carved by local resident, J. K. Blogg.

As part of its 100th-anniversary restoration in 2018, additional soldier names were added to the shrine. These names were researched by local resident, Sandra Dexter.

Memorial Cross

A stone cross was built in the gardens in 1912 to honour the men of Surrey Hills and Mont Albert who were serving in World War I.

Gallipoli Oak tree (Quercus coccifera)

A significant tree planting ceremony was held at Surrey Gardens on ANZAC Day in 2015 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of World War I.

The ceremony was held by the Gallipoli and Beyond Group which consisted of members from Boroondara’s historical societies.

Cubs from the 4th Scout Group helped plant the tree. 

The Gallipoli Oak is grown from acorns from oak trees at the Gallipoli site during WWI. The acorns were collected by several soldiers during the war and sent or brought back to Australia, where some were then planted.

The tree is now known as a symbol of remembrance.

Suitable for casual gatherings, weddings, celebrations and children’s play.

South Surrey Park forms part of a green corridor that links Surrey Hills to Lynden Park in Camberwell.

The park attracts birds and wildlife after extensive indigenous revegetation with the help of the Friends of South Surrey Park.

There are well-graded walking paths and ample shade throughout the park.

We're designing a new playground for South Surrey Park. Find out more on the South Surrey Park playground upgrade page.