Our History

Holdsworth history There has been a playground on the Holdsworth site since the 1940s and the Centre in its current format had its origins in the late 1960s, when the parents from Woollahra School, perceiving a need for after-school activities for the many “latchkey” children living in the area, approached Council with the suggestion that the playground be used for this purpose. Council was supportive but suggested that such a centre would be more effectively managed by the community. Following a public meeting the Woollahra Children’s and Community Association was formed. Subsequently the first Out-Of-School-Hours program was set up for children.

In the mid 1970s, when funding became available for neighbourhood and community centres, the Holdsworth Street Centre employed a neighbourhood Centre Worker and a broad range of information and activities were developed for the wider community.

Woollahra Council employed a community worker for Aged Services who created a number of programs for the frail aged and house bound. Over time, the Centre purchased two small buses and provided transport and excursions for the Out-of-School Hours programs and the elderly. A playgroup was started in the mornings.

In the 80s the centre became incorporated as the Holdsworth Street Community Centre Woollahra Inc., extended its services to include programs for young people with an intellectual disability and applied for and received Home and Community Care Program funding for the Community Transport and Home Maintenance and Modification services.

The Woollahra Waverley Home maintenance and Modification Service is now providing for the municipalities of Waverley and Woollahra and is separately incorporated. Out of the playgroup a Family Support service was developed in the Centre.

A Centre Director was employed with funding from Woollahra Council, to coordinate the range of programs, and the building was extended with funding from Woollahra Council and from the Federal Government Home and Community Care Program.

The 1990s saw both a consolidation and expansion of programs with a disability services coordinator and new programs and activities in all areas of client need.

The Centre today

Holdsworth now provides a dynamic and responsive range of services from the centre and other locations. As the main provider of direct community services in the Woollahra Local Government Area, Holdsworth has a productive partnership with Woollahra Council to grow and enhance the programs, services and activities available to the community. See Our Services.

On any given day the Centre hums with life as pre-schoolers and their carers play in the grounds and music, movies, and discussion groups take place in the rooms. The movement of buses and cars can only hint at the number of trips the Community Transport team are making. Adults and children with disabilities, older people, volunteers and staff all enjoy the positive and energising atmosphere of the Holdsworth Centre.