About Us
Welcome!
Castlefield Community Centre is a small and inviting Neighbourhood House that runs a range of programs.We are a place where you can learn a new skill, volunteer, practice your passion, receive support or simply connect with others.
Castlefield Community Centre is a part of Bayside Community Information and Support Service (BayCISS) which is a registered not-for-profit community charity. BayCISS provides an extensive range of services for community members living in the local area. These include a Community Information service, counselling, case management and emergency relief.
Our Team
Committee of Management
Geoffrey Cunningham – President
Bonnie Harris – Vice President
Mark Henricks – Treasurer
Haydn Gibson - Secretary
Arthur Hubbard - Committee Member
Suzanne Daley - Committee Member
Deb Carveth – Committee Member
Janet Matheson – Committee Member
Daniel Czech – Committee Member
Heather Stacy – Committee Member
Rose Paduano – Executive Officer
Staff
Rose Paduano – Executive Officer
Sally Kuhr - Centre Coordinator
Lynne Wakeham – Child Care Coordinator
Robyn Watts – Child Care Assistant
Christie Nessel – Playgroup Facilitator
Joanne Clark - Administration Coordinator
Shauna Noble - Administration
Our History
The original “Castlefield” home was built in 1852.
In 1856 Pioneer and Philanthropist John Matthew Smith an early settler in the Moorabbin district was a significant contributor to the Castlefield Estate. Smith purchased 38 acres of land located on the corner of Hampton St and Bluff Rd which included the Castlefield residence.
Improvements were made to the house and more property was purchased in 1887. Overall Smith owned 231 acres from Hampton St to Bluff Rd and his family was almost self-sufficient with cows, pigs and fowls. There was a veggie garden, fruit trees and fernery, not to mention a small zoo with monkeys and exotic birds.
The original Castlefield estate has since been divided; nonetheless many of the streets in the area still bear the names of original towns and battlefields associated with WW1.
For example,
“Imbros Street was named after the Aegean Sea Island where Australian soldiers were based before being sent to Gallipoli in WW1. Continuing with the military theme, several nearby streets are also named after WW1 battlefields. In fact the estate around the reserve was developed by the “War Service Homes Commission” in 1924 to house ex-servicemen. Many of these homes still remain.”
Castlefield Community Centre along with the Castlefield Reserve situated on Ludstone St was named after the former Castlefield Estate.The original home is now part of Haileybury College and from South Road we have the ability to see the picturesque Castlefield residence which is located within the College grounds.
