As part of the Footscray Learning Precinct, the Billy Button Children’s Centre is a joint initiative between the Department of Education and Training (DET) and Maribyrnong City Council, designed to bring early childhood education and care into closer alignment with primary and tertiary education. Located on council land adjacent to Footscray City Primary School, the centre provides a seamless learning pathway within the greater Footscray Learning Precinct.

The centre offers a 66-place long day care and a 66-place kindergarten, alongside Maternal and Child Health consulting rooms, a waiting area, and integrated staff facilities. These spaces foster a holistic approach to early education, ensuring that children and families receive the support they need in a purpose-built, community-focused environment.

Perkins played a key role in full precinct pedagogical workshops and consultation sessions, collaborating with local primary schools, high schools, and Victoria University—all part of the precinct. These discussions shaped the educational and spatial connections between institutions, reinforcing a cohesive and integrated learning network.

The site presented several complex challenges, including contaminated soil, heritage considerations related to the adjacent bluestone church and school buildings, significant trees, sub-terranean infrastructure, and VicTrack involvement. With multiple stakeholders and competing interests, Perkins successfully anticipated and navigated these constraints, ensuring the project’s smooth delivery and integration within the broader Footscray Learning Precinct.