On a warm evening in February, the Cire Learning and Community Precinct in Yarra Junction opened its doors to the community. It was the first celebration of our 50th anniversary year, held in the place where the story began.
The Community Hub itself carries that history. Now located in the Precinct at 39-43 Little Yarra Road, it’s just down the road from Warburton Highway, where the original neighbourhood house was established decades ago. The building may have changed, but inside it’s still full of the same warmth: a place to meet people, try something new, and feel welcome.
A Precinct That Reflects Community Need
The physical site has transformed over the years in ways that mirror Cire’s growth. What was once a church became an early learning centre. That early learning centre moved to a purpose-built space upstairs, and the rear building became home to Cire Community School’s junior years program. Some families at the event remembered walking up the hill to the old building. Others remembered the church. The shifts were necessary responses to what the community has needed at different points in time.
Councillor Jim Child, a long-time supporter of Cire, reflected on that evolution in his remarks to the crowd. “I see how Cire has grown, adapted, and responded to this community,” he said. The impact, he noted, is the result of a genuine relationship between Cire and the people it serves. What began as a neighbourhood house in the Upper Yarra now operates as a precinct serving communities across four Local Government Areas in Melbourne’s east.
Lifelong Learning Opportunities
The event offered a snapshot of what the precinct now holds. Prospective school students and their families took tours through Cire Community School, guided by teachers and wellbeing staff. They explored the campus at their own pace. Families wandered through the Community Hub, pausing at the historical display of newspapers and photographs that trace Cire’s journey back to its beginnings. People returning to the workforce spoke with Cire Training staff about pathways and qualifications. Local community members wandered in, curious about what opportunities might be available to them.
Families watched a montage of footage from Cire Early Learning, with current staff and parents who had worked at Cire years earlier marvelling at the changes. It was a quiet, easy atmosphere, perfect for connecting and sharing stories over chocolate chip cookies baked by students at the Community School.
A Year of Stories Ahead
This event was the beginning. Throughout 2026, Cire will be sharing the moments, people, and decisions that have shaped five decades of community education. From early learning to vocational training, from the Community Hubs to the schools that serve young people who need a different approach, the story is one of growth driven by listening and responding.
Holding this event in Yarra Junction honoured the place where Cire’s story began and reminded everyone present that the work continues here, in partnership with the community that made it all possible.
Join us for Cire’s first Gala Ball in June, to celebrate 50 years with a party like no other.
We’d love to hear your Cire story. Did you meet us in Yarra Junction, where our story began, or elsewhere? Share your memories with us at [email protected].
