Stonebridge Records $36.5M+ in Childcare and Swim School Investment Sales

Stonebridge Property Group has announced the successful sales of Eden Academy Clyde, Guardian Childcare Tarneit and Paul Sadler Swimland Aintree.

Together with the recently announced sales of Imagination Gardens Bell Post Hill and Happy Feet ELC Corio, the five transactions total approximately $36.7 million, completed across a combination of on-market, national portfolio and targeted off-market campaigns.

The largest transaction was Eden Academy Clyde, which sold for $9.12 million, representing the largest Victorian childcare investment sale recorded in 2026. The brand-new centre is secured by a 20-year initial lease to Eden Academy through to 2045.

Imagination Gardens Bell Post Hill followed at $9 million, while Paul Sadler Swimland Aintree sold for $7.635 million. Completed in November 2025 and secured by a 14-year, 11-month net lease to Paul Sadler Swimland, the Aintree transaction was particularly notable given the scarcity of the asset class, representing only the fourth purpose-built swim school investment sold on-market in Victoria since 2022.

Guardian Childcare Tarneit sold for $6.01 million, with the brand-new centre also secured by a 20-year initial lease through to 2045, while Happy Feet ELC Corio transacted for $5 million.

Both Imagination Gardens Bell Post Hill and Happy Feet ELC Corio offered purchasers value-add potential through upcoming market rent reviews, providing opportunities for future rental growth.

The campaigns attracted a diverse mix of local and interstate private investors, including several purchasers entering the childcare investment sector for the first time.

Stonebridge Partner Rorey James said the results reflected the depth of capital continuing to target childcare and other essential service investments.

“Despite the five properties offering different investment characteristics, we saw strong interest across the campaigns from both established childcare investors and buyers looking to enter the sector for the first time,” Mr James said.

“The buyer pool continues to extend beyond traditional childcare investors, with local and interstate private capital attracted to the defensive nature of the sector, long-term leases and strong underlying property fundamentals.”

Stonebridge Partner Kevin Tong said investors were becoming increasingly selective, with quality improvements, tenant covenant and underlying real estate fundamentals playing an important role in buyer decision-making.

“Brand-new and modern improvements, strong tenant covenants and well-positioned properties continue to attract significant interest, while we are also seeing buyers identify value in assets offering genuine future upside or value-add potential,” Mr Tong said.

The transactions were brokered by Stonebridge Agents Rorey James, Kevin Tong & Tom Moreland.

Transaction Details

All figures are approximate only.