Katanning Early Childhood Hub

The Katanning Early Childhood & Community Hub is a regionally significant initiative that brings together early learning, maternal and child health, family services, and community gathering spaces within a single integrated campus. The project provides a civic focal point for one of Western Australia’s most culturally diverse regional towns.

Extensive community consultation shaped a brief that balances immediate needs with flexibility for future change – ensuring the Hub can evolve with the community it serves over the next century.

The design prioritises adaptability and operational efficiency. Flexible spaces allow for diverse uses, from childcare and playgroups to after-school care, community events, and short-term office tenancies. Shared facilities – including a commercial-grade kitchen, conference rooms, and communal breakout spaces – promote interaction, inclusion and lifelong learning. Material selection emphasises durability, low maintenance, and passive environmental performance to support modest operational costs and long-term sustainability. Non-toxic finishes and natural ventilation contribute to a healthy indoor environment for children, staff, and visitors alike.

Landscape design is integral to the project’s identity. Located between the adjacent primary school and the Katanning Noongar Centre, the Hub forms the central node in a connected civic landscape. Existing mature trees are retained and celebrated, while new plantings represent the distinct bioregions that converge around Katanning. Water-sensitive design principles underpin the site, with rainfall captured in large tanks and filtered through planted swales that green and cool the campus.

Nature play areas and specialised garden spaces encourage curiosity, coordination, and social connection. Balancing, climbing and tactile elements foster spatial and cognitive development, while settings for reflection and shared play support emotional awareness and cooperation.

Together, the buildings and landscape create a healthy, adaptable, and inclusive environment – one that reflects the diversity and resilience of the Katanning community and strengthens its sense of place for future generations.