Parents, children and supporters gathered at the new centre next to the new Clutha Valley Primary School to mark what they called a red-letter day for preschool education in the area.
Immediate past president Suzie Roy said the official opening ceremony would not be about the struggles, trials and tribulations involved with the completion of the new building, although it had been a long journey.
The play-centre first opened 40 years ago, but the former building was in a bad state of repair and was removed from the site about two years ago.
Since then, the group had battled Ministry of Education officials and other bureaucrats to secure a new building.
The play-centre boasts a roll of about 28 children and opens two days a week, with hopes to extend its operating hours, Mrs Roy said.
The new facility began operating in March, but landscaping and other final improvements had been made over the ensuing seven months.
