Hobsonville Point’s Mill House will be given a new lease of life as a childcare centre, serving the growing number of families in the area.

 Bear Park Hobsonville Point is planning to open early December this year. The centre will initially provide spaces for 50 children aged 2 to 5 years of age, with another 25 spaces available once a planned infant and toddler building is completed. It will operate as a full early childhood learning centre, with hours from 7.30am - 6pm.

 Established in 1986, Bear Park is a highly-regarded New Zealand owned and operated business, with 10 centres in Auckland and Dunedin. Learning programmes are inspired by the internationally-acclaimed Reggio Philosophy, from Reggio Emilia, in Italy, which fits within the New Zealand Early Childhood Curriculum Te Whaariki. Many of the Bear Park centres are designed within existing homes, like Mill House, as the group believes this helps to create a nurturing, family-like environment.

 Mill House was designed in the early 1930’s by prominent Auckland architect George Tole for aviation pioneer Doug Mill. Mill set up a flying business at Hobsonville in 1927, establishing Mill's Aerial Survey and Transport Co., and operated his business from a hangar at Hobsonville until 1937. During World War II, Mill House housed Royal New Zealand Air Force trainees, the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force and the nursing sisters.

 Bear Park Hobsonville Point will be hosting open days nearer to their opening date. In the meantime, if you wish to find out more about this site and Bear Park please feel free to contact Bear Park’s Founder, Sue Stevely-Cole at sue@bearpark.co.nz, or visit their website www.bearpark.co.nz.