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Story: Men and women in the city

Playcentre, Eastbourne

Image
Playcentre, Eastbourne

The playcentre movement was founded in the 1940s by groups of suburban mothers interested in parent-supported childcare. Playcentre sessions were generally held on weekday mornings and mothers took turns to supervise the pre-school children. John Pascoe photographed this playcentre in Eastbourne, Wellington, in 1944.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, John Dobrée Pascoe Collection (PAColl-0783)

Reference: PAColl-7985-80

by John Dobrée Pascoe

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Caroline Daley, Men and women in the city – Suburban women, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/24601/playcentre-eastbourne (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Caroline Daley, published 17 December 2009.