This month marks the 100th anniversary of C&K Paddington Community Kindergarten located on Charlotte Street. The Paddington branch was officially opened on September 23, 1916 by Lady Goold-Adams, wife of the Governor of Queensland, Sir Hamilton John Goold-Adams and patroness of the Creche and Kindergarten Association. A creche operated on the site between 1917 and 1947.

The centre has had an eventful history. During the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1919, the kindergarten and creche were open 24 hours a day for 3 months to care for the children of those who contracted the virus.

Below is a selection of images of the Paddington Kindergarten and Creche from our collections.

Paddington Kindergarten in Brisbane, Queensland, 1917. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 76981

Paddington Kindergarten and Creche in Brisbane, 1922. Kindergarten is on the left and the creche is on the right. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 201436

Playing house at the Paddington Kindergarten, Brisbane,1922. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 201438

Paddington Kindergarten, Brisbane. From The Telegraph, June 23, 1938

Christmas party at Paddington Kindergarten, Brisbane. Taken from The Telegraph newspaper, December 8, 1938

Unidentified children at the Paddington Kindergarten, ca. 1947. John Oxley Library, State Library. Neg 74339

Breezeway between the two buildings at Paddington Kindergarten, Brisbane, ca. 1947. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 74350

Two year group playing at Paddington Kindergarten in Brisbane, 1949. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 74352

Sheila, one of the assistant teachers at Paddington Kindergarten, Brisbane, ca. 1949. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 74349

Children at Brisbane's Paddington Kindergarten, ca. 1949. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 74342

Staff at the Paddington Kindergarten, Brisbane, 1951. Back row, left to right: Frankie Appleby; Andrea Day; Ruth Andersen; Diana Willey, Joan Davidson. Seated left to right: Mrs Jeffs (cook); Alexa Riley (assistant); Daphne Sherivan (director); Shirley Ross (assistant); A. Parker (nursing sister); unidentified staff. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 74351

Further reading -

• A history of Paddington Kindergarten / Paddington Kindergarten