High-quality Brisbane childcare centre sells off-market at benchmark yield

An off-market transaction has seen Guardian Childcare Lota, a newly developed early learning facility in Brisbane’s bayside, sold for $7.45 million, reflecting a tight 5.04 per cent yield and reinforcing investor appetite for quality childcare assets.

Located at 215 Whites Road, Lota, approximately 24km east of the Brisbane CBD, the centre was sold by Stonebridge Property Group on behalf of Clarence Property. The deal was negotiated by Stonebridge’s Tom Moreland, James Freemantle, Michael Collins and Thomas Proberts.

Completed and opened just four months ago, the centre is underpinned by a 15-year lease to Guardian Childcare, one of Australia’s largest early learning providers with more than 170 centres nationwide.

The Lota centre was acquired by a first-time commercial property investor sourced through Stonebridge’s Asia Practice network, highlighting the continued appeal of the ECEC sector among emerging international and private buyers.

“This result highlights the strength of the childcare investment market, particularly for newly developed assets with secure lease covenants,” said Tom Moreland, Partner at Stonebridge. “The off-market nature of the sale and the calibre of the buyer reflect the continued depth of demand from private investors.”

James Freemantle, Executive at Stonebridge, noted the sale marks the group’s 31st childcare transaction in 2025.

“Transaction volumes have surged and appetite for quality childcare freeholds is returning to all-time high levels,” he said.

Clarence Property’s Head of Capital Transactions, Ben Somerville, said the outcome was a strong result for their investors.

“The childcare market remains strong, and the Lota project has proven to be an excellent fund-through development for Clarence Property, delivering a high-quality asset and a great outcome for our investors,” Mr Somerville said.

This sale follows a $10 million transaction for Imagine Childcare Collingwood Park, also handled by Stonebridge, and further reflects the sector’s growing recognition as a resilient and high-performing asset class.

Read the off the market sale here.