Brand New Childcare Centre in MT Gambier, South Australia Hits the Market

A childcare freehold in Mt Gambier operated by wholly owned subsidiary of Scotch College Adelaide set to test investor appetite 

A purpose-built childcare centre at 77-79 Suttontown Road, Suttontown, Mt Gambier is for sale. 

The facility is leased to Beyond Early Learning, a wholly owned subsidiary of prestigious Scotch College Adelaide, on a secure 15-year lease with options until 2059. 

Situated on a 3,908sqm corner block, the asset occupies a high-profile position with wide street frontages in South Australia’s second-largest city. 

JLL’s Mark Stafford and Claudia Brace have been exclusively appointed to manage the sale by an Expressions of Interest campaign.  

Mr Stafford said the modern 89-place centre represents an opportunity to secure a brand-new essential service asset with significant depreciation benefits.  

“The Australian childcare market continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience, underpinned by bipartisan government support and over $16 billion in federal funding for the Child Care Subsidy in 2025–26. 

“Investors continue to be drawn to the asset class due to strong market tailwinds, with the numbers of hours attended by children up 33 per cent nationally since 2010, fuelling confidence in the sector,” he said. 

“”Beyond Early Learning brings exceptional quality, being a part of the prestigious Scotch College Adelaide education ecosystem. Their focus on premium early learning environments creates a compelling offering in the Mount Gambier market, with the centre trading well above 90 per cent occupancy within four months of opening its doors in late 2024.” 

The investment is underpinned by strong lease fundamentals including fixed 3.5 per cent annual increases and a current net income of $325,853 per annum plus GST and outgoings. 

Ms Brace highlighted that commercial property purchases in South Australia are exempt from stamp duty, offering a competitive advantage for investors.  

“For interstate investors, this represents potential savings exceeding $250,000 compared to equivalent investments elsewhere in Australia,” she said. 

“Mount Gambier is experiencing solid growth with forecasts showing a 16.3 per cent population increase by 2041. The facility features five early learning rooms catering to different age groups from zero to five years and is perfectly positioned to capitalise on this forthcoming growth and demand,” she said. 

“The centre is also strategically positioned near multiple educational institutions, including nine schools with over 4,600 students within a four-kilometre radius.” 

“This location places the centre directly opposite IGA Montebello and within walking distance of the University of South Australia campus,” Ms Brace said.  

“It’s a well-established family area, with more than a third of households made up of couples with children or single-parent families. High local employment is also helping to support ongoing demand for childcare services.” 

Mr Stafford said well-priced new childcare assets were becoming harder to find amid rising construction costs, and that most new centres are trading well above $8 million. 

“The accessible price point, coupled with the opportunity to secure an asset backed by such a high-quality and prestigious education institution, is sure to test the appetite of investors,” he said. 

The property is being offered for sale through Expressions of Interest closing Thursday 21 August 2025 at 2:30pm (ACST).