The closure comes at a time when a former employee of the centre has been served with a court attendance notice alleging she stole $60,000 from the organisation.

Centre director Karen Earsman yesterday said the centre - a not-for-profit community organisation run by a parent management committee - had been placed into voluntary insolvency.

"It's devastating," said Mrs Earsman, a long-serving employee who took over as director in the past month.

"All the families are upset, too, because you get a connection with them."

Mrs Earsman said a decision to close the centre was taken at a meeting of the parent committee last Wednesday.

She said the Hampden Bridge Child Care Centre catered for 52 children belonging to 39 families.

"The majority of them have found other places," Mrs Earsman said.

"Some have decided they will not look for other places because their children don't have a long wait to start school"

She said none of the seven full-time and two casual staff had found other jobs yet.

Mrs Earsman said one staff member had worked at Hampden Bridge Child Care Centre for about 26 years, while she had been there about 18 years and another staff member had about 15 years' service.

The centre has been operating since 1986 and offers long day care and preschool programs for children aged up to five.

Mrs Earsman said a representative of the chartered accountancy firm dealing with the voluntary insolvency would meet with centre representatives today to discuss the future.

The centre leases its building from Wagga City Council for $501.60 a year.

Council has yet to be officially informed of the centre's imminent closure.

Wagga police crime manager Detective Inspector Darren Cloake said a 48-year-old woman had been charged with one count of stealing property as a clerk or servant.

"A future court attendance notice was served at a Brunswick Heads address on July 4," Inspector Cloake said.