It was the culmination of a year of fundraising and pupils, teachers and parents were glad to have the $55,000 playground finished.
Balclutha Primary School parent teacher association (PTA) president Corinna Laurie said the group received $26,000 worth of grants from: the Alexander McMillan Trust ($4000), Otago Community Trust ($12,000), and the Trusts Community Foundation ($10,000).
The remainder was raised by selling cheese rolls, raffles, sausages and saveloys, while also running a ''Ladies Night''.
The playground equipment arrived unassembled last Friday and it took three days to carefully put it together.
Ms Laurie said the playground was designed by the school, including a rope orb climbing frame, ''muscle buster'' with seat, tightrope, slide, and vertical and horizontal ladders.
Parents and years 6-8 pupils spent several hours yesterday spreading bark chips around the new playground before its official opening last night.
Year 7 pupil Amy Sellwood (11) said it was ''really awesome'' to see the playground in place.
Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan said the playground showcased the hard work of a proactive group in the community.
The PTA had also provided an iPad and 32-inch flat screen television for each of its eight classrooms.
