Two years later, the current site (back then a racing course) was purchased and cleared to start building a permanent centre for camps to be held.

People everywhere rolled up their sleeves to help and 133 people attended the very first working bee, with all those names recorded and still available for us to read today. The Assembly Hall was the first building to be built, with the kitchen/dining, and then original cabins Poplars, Cedars, Willows and Oaks soon to follow.

Parkdown Lodge was initially built and used for a children’s home, (now known as Temcare). Later a new children’s home would be built on the western boundary, leaving Parkdown Lodge available as an additional small complex for various groups.

In 1967, CYC became incorporated and an official board of management was formed. Regular camps had been held for boys and girls every school holidays and were well attended.

Throughout the 1960s and 70s the camp expanded its bookings to take school groups and weekend church groups throughout the year. Christmas and Easter Bible Camps became a highlight for young adults each year and are still fondly remembered today.

In the early 1980s two of the original cabins were demolished to make way for new ‘modern’ facilities. Ensuites in each room were considered a luxury for a campsite then, and the move quite progressive.

Willows was demolished in 2000 for the new dining centre, and the original Oaks cabins are still standing (around near the Villa), which is now used for storage.

Bayside Lodge was added to the site after a donation of men’s living quarters from Luina Mines. These small cabins were creatively transformed into a retreat complex on the beach, with another 60 beds. This brought the total capacity of the site to a 220 bed facility.

Throughout the 1990s Camp Clayton continued to grow:  A second Youth worker was appointed full-time to continue to develop the ever-increasing load of organising holiday camps and in particular to develop follow-up programs. Bookings grew, attracting a large variety of community groups, schools, churches, and conventions throughout each year.

Approaching 2000, plans were underway to replace the deteriorating kitchen which had served faithfully for 50 years! Extending the kitchen also meant extending the old dining room to the larger facility that now exists. The new dining centre basically covers the area of the original cabins – Willows, Poplars and Cedars. In completing the Dining Centre, a seminar room overlooking Leith and the Bass Strait was also included.

In 2004-05, a large range of outdoor recreation activities were added to the site, including high ropes, several challenge courses, and a giant swing to name a few.

Today the site is able to handle up to five groups at a time, and thirteen full-time and five part-time people work on staff. The ministry and motivation is still centred on developing our young people in their Christian faith, and introducing those children who have never heard, to the Gospel.

Don’t miss the black & white murals in the front foyer that depict those proud early years in CYC’s life. Our heritage.