Simply Sunshine Moranbah, Nov 2021

Working with Amanda at Simply Sunshine Childcare is always a pleasure. This time we are re vamping the pre-school space to provide a cool, fresh, green space with 3 water play elements to help keep cool. Check out the before and after images.

Before image look at all that rubber soft-fall sooo hot.

Before: This Needed Help

A New Sensory Bike Track Engaging and Hard Waring.

Green and Inviting

New Insulated Shade over the Sand-pit

One of 3 New Water Elements, Misters in the Arbor over the Sensory Bike Track.

Suns New Kindergarten Carrara Jan 2023

The wish list on this project was awesome. A fort that has a windmill on the top, connecting to 2 more timber fort structures. Also add 1 Avery ready to house all sorts of bird life. A log balance walk, a net climb challenge. We are so proud of the final result and are looking forward to the final images from the grand opening later in the month.

Windmill fort

Custom Avery

Timber Net Climb

Rope Balance Swing

Billabong Big 4, Tweed Heads, July 2022

We listened to Andrews wish list he was definite, it had to be different, fit into the natural landscape, not plastic, a challenge, high but with a zone for the little ones. We visited the site then did a back and fro with hand drawn sketches till we were on the same page with design and budget and then a leap of faith from Andrew. We are pleased to report that it was a huge success !!!! We still get updates on all the fun the children and a few adults are having, no issues, no problems. We look forward to working with him again in the future.

Mountain Creek Early Learning Dec/Jan 2020 21

Modern Country Farm was the brief. All we had to do was make all the wonderful ideas Erin had come to life.

Lots of fresh whites and bold violet teamed up with the green of the grass showed this play space off beautifully. Each play space carefully thought through to provide lots of play elements for every age group of children. A custom built tractor with trailer that doubles up as a soft hammock for reading books. Bike tracks with all kinds of water play. You can ride through under the colourful windmill where rain shower heads provide a fun way to cool off. Further around the bike track over the curved timber bridge you pass through the 3 timber arbors each having misters, hours of fun ! If thats not enough then a big white cubby with rainbow bunting invites play upstairs or underneath where a sand-pit begs to be played in. Over in the mud-pit a two way recycled timber water race is waiting for mud pies. Then when you think you have seen it all right there in its own pen is a life size cow.

This is just one of 3 play zones. Everyone has been considered equally. The abundant trees and beautiful gardens add a tropical touch as well as providing the much appreciated shade. Everyone will have happy days here.

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Sand-stone water course and fountains for the babies. No one was left out.

Sand-stone water course and fountains for the babies. No one was left out.

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Wynnum Manly C&K Kindergarten May 2020

Stage 1: Working the the front yard of a beautiful Queenslander, that has been a Kindergarten for over 20 years was going to be a interesting build. We wanted a natural playspace without detracting from the existing heritage street.

We started with the garden, to help create a buffer between the neighbours and the kindy we put in a vertical garden, water feature and soft planting along one side and a timber fence was erected on the other side with a garden and market cart . In addition we created a story telling space with a story telling chair and recycled timber seats, sandstone slabs and pebble will allow the space to be used as a fire pit as well.

Vertical Garden, water wall to the mud pit, tree decoration. It all works.

Vertical Garden, water wall to the mud pit, tree decoration. It all works.

Market cark, Story telling circle, magic .

Market cark, Story telling circle, magic .

Character was key element for this garden, a self watering system was applied to take care of school holidays.

Character was key element for this garden, a self watering system was applied to take care of school holidays.

Its In the details …

Its In the details …

This works , best one so far.

This works , best one so far.

Kool Kids, The Hive, Byron Bay 2020

Modern, Industrial, Coastal.

The Brief was clear, timing was of the essence as we were approaching the holiday season in December 2019 and it was to be completed and handed over in January 2020. The Kool Kids Kindergarten in the prestigious new complex, “The Hive “ in the Arts and Industrial estate in Byron bay needed a little something special to finish it off. Kym and I were called in to create something that fitted the cool chic vibe of Bryon Bay.

A series of Pods were designed and constructed using a steel frames , laser cut panels and timber slats to pick up on the sophisticated design of The Hive Complex .

Connections between the pods included a timber plank style bridge and a more challenging pommel walk.

Lining the pods with synthetic grass in two pods and a net floor in one pod gave opportunities to sit and have quiet play or the challenge to balance your way across the bridge, net, and pommels.

We have really enjoyed being able to produce what our client wanted, when they wanted it on time and on budget.

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Somerset College 2019

So there was no playground for the years 5 6 7. A huge oval but nothing to climb. However we saw a Tree and it was unused space. Why not a tree-house. Lets begin.

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It well under way, it really needs something else?

It well under way, it really needs something else?

Its still not enough?

Its still not enough?

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Eastside Early Learning, Gumdale 2019

We had the pleasure of designing and constructing the new play space for Eastside Early Learning. It was a delight to see the design take shape. There was room for all the fun elements with-out it being overcrowded. From the forts to the water play, sand and mud, swings and sensory bike track. Check it out.

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Spashpad water play

Spashpad water play

Back to back sand and mud play.

Back to back sand and mud play.

Meadowbrook Childcare

Sometimes just sometimes you meet someone willing to go outside the box.

At Meadowbrook childcare we have met that person. After observing children having a huge amount of fun on grassy mounds in a park. The decision was made. We want mounds, Lots of mounds in our upgraded playground.  We will also add a Tree house and a water play a little bit later in  stage 2.  After pulling down the old metal play unit and sand-pit made from coppers log with old shade cloth, we got to work.

Truck loads of mound creating material have been sculpted to form the outline.

Mound 1. Yet to have the green.....

Mound 1. Yet to have the green.....

Framed by the bike track the mounds came up so well.

Framed by the bike track the mounds came up so well.

Combination of the Tree house and sand-pit

Combination of the Tree house and sand-pit

The sand-pit before renovations

The sand-pit before renovations

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Before shot of the playground.

Kool kids Casuarina

It a new day, This new childcare centre gives it all. They wanted challenge Hight, so thats what they got.

Thats fort 1. with slide, climb wall and vertical ladder.

Thats fort 1. with slide, climb wall and vertical ladder.

Fort 2 and 3 connect via an enclosed net tunnel. Super fun.

Fort 2 and 3 connect via an enclosed net tunnel. Super fun.

Climb walls, clatter bridges, crooked roof. Wouldn't you want to play here.

Climb walls, clatter bridges, crooked roof. Wouldn't you want to play here.

C&K Kedron, New long daycare centre.

Loving the natural outdoor play-spaces. we have designed a place for water play, story telling, sand play, mud-play climbing, swinging and sensory paths that lead to somewhere.

Timber Stone and lots of green make an attractive and fun place to play. 

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A  custom designed story telling throne with lots of seating for the munchkins.

A  custom designed story telling throne with lots of seating for the munchkins.

What a fun entrance to the sand-pit

What a fun entrance to the sand-pit

Connect the sand and the mud kitchen, storage boxes

Connect the sand and the mud kitchen, storage boxes

Small spaces can still be fun. Basket swing and crooked playhouse contained by logs and steppers. Its all there.

Small spaces can still be fun. Basket swing and crooked playhouse contained by logs and steppers. Its all there.

Biloela June/July 2017

We are going back to natural playspaces and would like a wet/dry creek bed with a mud-pit for our preppies. What can you do? Lets see.

It was a long space, unused but with such potential.....

It was a long space, unused but with such potential.....

We needed a LOT of river rocks!!!!

We needed a LOT of river rocks!!!!

This is only half.

This is only half.

This is half way. Outdoor shower and a place to splash..

This is half way. Outdoor shower and a place to splash..

No point having a watercourse if it doesn't end up somewhere fun!! Stone bowls for making mud pies.

No point having a watercourse if it doesn't end up somewhere fun!! Stone bowls for making mud pies.

Its remote, Its fascinating, and we can't wait! Boulia here we come!

Boulia, Central Queensland,  August 2017

This is exciting!!! we are going to build a amphitheatre and a stage, 3 forts, for a rural community in central Queensland. It's a first and we are loving the challenge. When we arrive we will show the before and the after shots. Our team is so looking forward to this challenge . Watch this space!! 

This is a pic of the road we are about to undertake. yee har! Not our caravan we are going in with a 3 convoy of utes...

This is a pic of the road we are about to undertake. yee har! Not our caravan we are going in with a 3 convoy of utes...

3 interconnecting Forts for heaps of fun.

3 interconnecting Forts for heaps of fun.

Lets add a stage

Lets add a stage

Some where to sit overlooking the stage

Some where to sit overlooking the stage

Bulimba State School

It was having an up grade. New modern building with bright colours and we built a play-space to compliment the area.

Climb Wall with exchangeable  net climb

Climb Wall with exchangeable  net climb

They wanted a twisted tunnel slide. delivered!

They wanted a twisted tunnel slide. delivered!

The Bigger Picture, we can have fun here.

The Bigger Picture, we can have fun here.

Clermont Daycare Centre

We have been busy!!!! We have been working out in central Queensland at the Clermont daycare centre. They have a huge play-space that they wanted up-graded. So we have been working in stages.

Our first stage was the Nursery and it has been a delight to watch the babies enjoy their new space.

Now it was time to work on the Kindy play-yard and now they have a beautiful Sand-pit and Mud-pit with water play. We also constructed a fort with a net tunnel climb so that they had a challenge.

Here is the before Pics:

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Worn rubber softfall and plastic. They wanted it gone. Natural was what they craved.

Worn rubber softfall and plastic. They wanted it gone. Natural was what they craved.

A Tree-house style Sand-pit roof with our signature sand-stone boulder surround connect to a new Mud kitchen with a herb garden and dogs and steppers keep it cool and natural. Fabulous for water play.

A Tree-house style Sand-pit roof with our signature sand-stone boulder surround connect to a new Mud kitchen with a herb garden and dogs and steppers keep it cool and natural. Fabulous for water play.

Big shade, new planting and lots of challenge on the fort. Heaps of fun.

Big shade, new planting and lots of challenge on the fort. Heaps of fun.

You can go through the tunnel or over it up the vertical ladder or the climb wall. Or you can just play shop underneath.  all good.

You can go through the tunnel or over it up the vertical ladder or the climb wall. Or you can just play shop underneath.  all good.

Natural stone bowls, dirt, water , heavenly.

Natural stone bowls, dirt, water , heavenly.

Little things: Local Seats bought at the local market make it home.

Little things: Local Seats bought at the local market make it home.

Clermont Daycare Stage 3

We have returned to Clermont to finish the up-grade to the Toddler play-space.

It was a pleasure to work with the girls at the Kindy.  Hi Katie, Hi Kelly, who have always gone out of their way to help. Especially connecting us to local contractors and helping find accommodation for us all. They even found some extra help for us and introduced us to Brendan who turned out to be a real asset. Thank you!

The Project Manager Summer has been incredible! Always available to answer any questions and anything we asked she expedited quickly and efficiently,  in her own time, working full time and caring for two little ones. Amazing....

So what did we do...  We put a new insulated roof over the sand-pit and added new decking. Then we connectd the sand-pit to a digging patch and added a timber mud kitchen with a very cool sink and a tap for water-play.

Then we built a sensory pathway that led to a bike track with a big turning circle for burn outs. Added 3 natural totems and a new black-board.

We built a gorgeous Crooked playhouse and used natural timber rails wherever we could.

The swings also got replaced and a basket swing was added.

The large veranda was concreted and then crazy-paved with sand-stone to connect to the Nursery. This path will eventually go all around the outside of the centre.

Lots of hedging and soft planting and turf helped everything feel cool and green.

So what did it look like before:

Clermont swings before up-grade

Clermont swings before up-grade

After, with planting, a raised painter box and the Kindy girls changed out the old painted mural fence, an instant up date. Looks good girls.

After, with planting, a raised painter box and the Kindy girls changed out the old painted mural fence, an instant up date. Looks good girls.

Old rubber soft-fall be-set by tree roots was hot and unsafe and ugly.

Old rubber soft-fall be-set by tree roots was hot and unsafe and ugly.

Sand-pit to Digging patch connected by a sensory path, now that works and its so pretty.

Sand-pit to Digging patch connected by a sensory path, now that works and its so pretty.

Elements on the sensory path included hand painted art work sealed and non slipped.The digging patch has its very own mud kitchen and table and chairs.

Elements on the sensory path included hand painted art work sealed and non slipped.The digging patch has its very own mud kitchen and table and chairs.

Play house before up-grade. do you remember these?

Play house before up-grade. do you remember these?

New Crooked playhouse. We so want to do more of these... Do you like our window?

New Crooked playhouse. We so want to do more of these... Do you like our window?

A path to somewhere. Natural totems. It cool: its natural : its inviting.

A path to somewhere. Natural totems. It cool: its natural : its inviting.

Everything connects. Thanks for the opportunity Katie.

Everything connects. Thanks for the opportunity Katie.

Timber Tots

Timber Tots Daycare Centre is being built on the site of a Timber yard that has been part of the local scene for a very long time, so to keep the memory the owner of the newly build centre has asked us to build their playgrounds using some of the old timber from the mill. We are looking forward to the challenge ....

Kindy play space, tick....

Kindy play space, tick....

The old timber mill site before work commenced

The old timber mill site before work commenced

Timber Tots New Daycare Centre

Well work has been progressing on the Building of the new Timber Tots Daycare Centre and now its our turn to create the owners dream Play-spaces. Stay Tuned for sneak peaks!

Sharing a workspace with the Kindy's construction crew means timing deliveries is crucial. First load whoo whoo.

Sharing a workspace with the Kindy's construction crew means timing deliveries is crucial. First load whoo whoo.

First floor is staring to take shape.

First floor is staring to take shape.

1x Double sand-pit, a trio of forts, watercourse and a mound with slide.

1x Double sand-pit, a trio of forts, watercourse and a mound with slide.

Looking down on the sensory path /bike track.

Looking down on the sensory path /bike track.

The dry creek bed has a jetty to connect the boat to the sand-pit.

The dry creek bed has a jetty to connect the boat to the sand-pit.

Under the sand-pit roof you must have a family of lady beetles.

Under the sand-pit roof you must have a family of lady beetles.

Recycled timber beam makes a beautiful raised water course.

Recycled timber beam makes a beautiful raised water course.

In the babies space they get to have fun on a big double slide.

In the babies space they get to have fun on a big double slide.

Clermont Daycare Centre

From Sarina we have made our way up to Clermont in Central Queensland to renovate stage 1 of the Babies Play-space. It needed some love so we are building a new Sand-pit with a roof and adding some free standing play panels for out-door painting, pull-up bars and music. Then we have made a small bike track with a grassed mound in the centre and just for good measure we have added a Hippo, (Owen the third) on top of the mound. Here is the before Picture.

Before we started work.

Before we started work.

Sneak Peek at the new sand-pit under construction.

Sneak Peek at the new sand-pit under construction.

Its never as simple as it sounds, in this case a beautiful Golden Rain Tree has spread its roots far and wide, so dig dig dig. We will get there!..

Its never as simple as it sounds, in this case a beautiful Golden Rain Tree has spread its roots far and wide, so dig dig dig. We will get there!..

Pretty as a picture

Pretty as a picture

The Clermont girls have told us that Owen the Hippo has had a gender change her new name is Gloria. So there you have it!

The Clermont girls have told us that Owen the Hippo has had a gender change her new name is Gloria. So there you have it!

Three Activity Panels and a stepper path for the very little ones.

Three Activity Panels and a stepper path for the very little ones.

Sarina Kindergarten

Well we have arrived back at Sarina to custom build a Train! This kindy is built opposite a Train Line that has super long freight trains from the mines and the children love to watch them go past. So the Girls at Sarina Kindy thought. Lets give them a train of their own. Ok then lets see what we can do.

 We built a retaining wall on an earlier stage and this is the space before we start to build the train.

 We built a retaining wall on an earlier stage and this is the space before we start to build the train.

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