The group lost half of its toys when the 94-year-old St Clair Presbyterian Church hall was badly damaged by fire.
Co-ordinator Fiona Clarkson said the group had used a nearby facility in the meantime, but the caregivers and children were relieved to be back in the refurbished hall.
"My son was upset after the fire that we weren't going back to the old hall . . . but he is very excited to be back here," Mrs Clarkson said.
Part of the appeal of the renovated hall was the large space and, importantly for the children, plenty of toys.
"We have replaced $3500 worth of toys and equipment so the children and the parents are very happy," she said.
What the play group could not replace were the contact details of more than 40 families who had expressed an interest in joining.
"We tried our best to contact these families but we lost a lot of numbers because of the fire and change of building," she said.
Up to 25 children attended the play group before the fire, but that number went down to an average of seven afterwards.
Th group needed an average of 15 children and the relaunch had attracted six newcomers which was "very promising".
The St Clair Playgroup meets at the St Clair Presbyterian Church hall, Albert St, Dunedin, on Thursdays, between 9.30am and 11.30am.
