The CBC represents a unique partnership between Brotherhood of St Laurence, the City of Yarra and Lentara UnitingCare. Almost ten years in the making, the CBC had its genesis in the problems of ageing infrastructure confronted by the participating agencies which desperately needed upgrading. In 2003, a feasibility study funded by Telstra examined the range of existing services and needs on the Atherton Gardens estate.  A children and families centre was also identified in 2003 as a community priority in the Atherton Gardens Community Action Plan.

The CBC concept has been progressed by a partnership of community and family agencies working in Yarra which recognises the importance of the experiences in the early childhood years to the longer term life chances of children and which aims to demonstrate integrated, flexible and responsive services and community capacity building to achieve genuine social inclusion.

The CBC development has the support of all levels of Government. In 2006, the CBC was formally recognised as a priority for the Department of Human Services (DHS).  Following this, the Atherton Gardens Advisory Board made the CBC the highest priority strategic development in the Atherton Gardens precinct.  In 2009, the CBC was granted a significant contribution from the Federal government as part of the National Building program.  The cost of building the CBC was approximately $5.2m of which the partners have contributed $2.1m.  $3.1m has come from the Federal and State government.

The CBC is based on the edge of the Atherton Gardens estate on the ground floor of a new seven floor social housing development on the corner of Brunswick Street and King William Street in Fitzroy.  The purpose built facility was completed in July 2012 in readiness for opening in January 2013.