All News and Events
2 Mar: Clean Up Australia Day
On Sunday 2nd March, Kensington residents will once again join thousands of people across the nation, all cleaning up their local area on Clean Up Australia Day.
Meet Kensington’s Clean Up Coordinator Peter Duffy in Borthwick Park, Thornton Street, at 9:30am. Wear shoes for comfortable walking, sun protection and clothing to suit the weather. Volunteers will be given gloves and sturdy bags for waste and recyclables, and assigned one suburban block to lap and collect items discarded on the footpath. In small groups we’ll cover all of Kensington and regroup in Borthwick Park at about 11am for barbeque brunch provided by the Kensington Residents’ Association.
The KRA clean up is registered on the CUAD website – click here.
12 Mar: Sturt Candidates Forum
JOINTLY PRESENTED BY RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATIONS OF KENSINGTON, KENT TOWN, NORWOOD & ST PETERS AND THE MAYLANDS-EVANDALE-STEPNEY COMMUNITY NETWORK GROUP
WHEN: Wednesday 12th March 2025 from 7pm
WHERE: Banquet Hall, St Peters Town Hall Complex, St Peters Street, St Peters.
WHO: An invitation has been extended to those who have already announced their candidacy. Any other candidates will also be invited to participate.
Confirmed attendees include
Dr Verity Cooper, Independent
Claire Clutterham, Labor
Katie McCusker, Greens
James Stevens, Liberal
All voters in the Federal Electorate of Sturt are welcome to attend this important meeting. You do not need to be a member of a local resident group.
Each candidate will be allowed time to canvas the local issues and to give their vision for the electorate.
The audience will then be given an opportunity to ask questions to help decide who should represent the people of Sturt in the Federal Parliament.
Reimagining Pioneer Park
For more than 12 months the Kensington Residents’ Association (KRA) Committee has been investigating how to increase the accessibility and amenity of Pioneer Park in Maesbury Street, working closely with landscape architects Amanda Balmer and Carina Sidwell from WAX Design.
Pioneer Park is on the site of an old graveyard attached to the Kensington Village Chapel (now a private residence). Both the building and open space are important historic sites within the local community and have Local Heritage status. A Conservation Management Plan developed in 2007 considered the building and open space, and recognised the contribution of artist Cedar Prest, who resided in the Chapel for a time, to the internal design of the building.
The history of the Park as well as the buried remains on site (confirmed by 2007 investigations) demand a design approach which is sensitive to this context and carefully manages the impact of development on the site.
Consideration of the aspects outlined above led to a clear DESIGN VISION – to create a quiet place of reflection which is open to all users and is sensitive to the historic and natural context of the site – to be achieved by adhering to three DESIGN PRINCIPLES:
- Recognise and celebrate the site’s value historically to both Colonial and First Nations peoples;
- Protect and preserve built and natural elements; and
- Improve accessibility to and through the Park to support all users.
The images below illustrate the past, present and a possible future for Pioneer Park in the form of a conceptual landscape design prepared by WAX Design for presentation to the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters Council. As the owners of the Park, Council permission was required to enable the KRA to progress the project. At the February 2025 Council meeting, elected members voted unanimously to allow the KRA to apply for a Green Adelaide grant to cover the costs of re-landscaping. Ahead of the grant application, the design will be finalised in consultation with the community, including Kensington residents, Kaurna representatives and the Council.
9 Feb: Borthwick Park working bee 🐝
Borthwick Park is nestled between Second Creek and Thornton, Richmond Street and Bridge Streets in Kensington 5068.
This lovely green space has been the focus of a community-driven revegetation project since 2009, kindly supported by the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters and Green Adelaide. Prior to commencement of the project the majestic remnant river red gums in the park were marooned in an expanse of kikuyu grass and the creek bank was weed-choked and badly eroded. Hard to imagine when you visit the park today!
Working bees are held on the 2nd Sunday of every month 9-11am to maintain the understorey of shrubs, vines, grasses and ground cover established over the past 15 years.
Join us in the park on Sunday 9th February between 9am and 11am. We’ll be topping up mulch to keep soil moisture in and weeds out, tip pruning shrubs, evicting pesky feral grasses, hose-watering the newer plantings… whatever needs doing!
Volunteering locally is a great way to meet new people in your neighbourhood. Bring the kids. Invite a friend or neighbour to volunteer with you. Jobs for all ages and capabilities. No prior gardening experience necessary. All training and tools are provided. Wear enclosed footwear, hat and clothing to suit the weather – it’s going to be HOT!! Bring your KRA volunteer vest if you have one or we’ll issue you with on on the day.
If you can’t manage physical gardening work, you are most welcome to join us for morning tea from 11am. Free tea, coffee, and a delicious spread of morning tea treats on offer.
17 Dec: Carolling in Kensington
Kensington residents and friends participate in our annual Christmas Carolling around the streets of our suburb.
Gather in Regent Garden next to McKellar Stewart kindy from 6.45pm for a 7pm start. We’ll cross over to The Kensi first for some warm up carols in the front bar.
Led by bagpipers, we’ll make our way down Thornton St pausing to sing at the Lithuanian community units, then turn right into High St to sing with the Sisters of St Joseph at the Bethany Centre (4 High Street).
We then head southeast along High St, down Richmond St and though Borthwick Park to the Thornton St entrance of the Norwood Aged Cottage Homes.
We walk through the NACH property to Bridge Street and walk up to finish with a few carols inside the Rising Sun Inn at approximately 8.30pm.
We stop frequently along this route to sing carols and spread Christmas cheer through our suburb. Side-tracks and minor route variations are possible, so if you would like the Kensington carollers to sing outside your home please get in touch with our Secretary (contact@kra.org.au) and we’ll do our best to make it happen!
Song sheets are provided by KRA. Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress with some Christmassy flair – think tinsel, Santa hats, Christmas shirts, reindeer antlers!!
2 Feb: Film FUNdraiser event
KRA’s annual FUNdraiser will be held on Sunday 2nd February 4.30-7.30pm at the Regal Theatre.
We’re delighted to be screening ‘Maria’ for Kensington residents and friends as part of our 2025 FUNdraiser event. Angelina Jolie stars as Maria Callas, one of the most iconic performers of the 20th century, as the American-Greek soprano retreats to Paris after a glamorous and tumultuous life in the public eye.
View the trailer for ‘Maria’ here. Rated M, released 30 January 2025, directed by Pablo Larrain.
Gather together some friends to FUNdraise for 2025 Kensington community activities and enjoy a fabulous film in the gorgeous Regal Theatre.
KRA bar open 4.30-5.30pm for purchase of additional drinks. During this time we’ll be running a raffle plus silent and live auctions with great locally sourced prizes to boost our fundraising efforts.
The film starts at 5.30pm and runs for 2 hours.
Ticket price covers cinema entry, a drink on arrival and pre-movie finger food provided by the KRA committee.
Tickets available for $20 from any KRA Committee member (listed here) or email Secretary Andrew Dyson at contact@kra.org.au to secure your tickets. Online tickets available for $22 through Trybooking by clicking here or search ‘KRA’ in Trybooking events (click here).
12 & 14 Nov: Compassionate Kensington Conversations
Are you concerned your older relatives, friends or neighbours may need more support?
Do you require more assistance in your daily living? Do you need emotional support as a care-giver?
The Compassionate Kensington Conversations are for you! Everyone is invited. These are important conversations for our whole community.
Two FREE sessions on offer: Tuesday evening 12th November & Thursday morning 14th November. Details in flyer below.
💙Receive information and participate in discussions about compassionate communities;
💙Learn how to become a more compassionate neighbour or friend;
💙Discover services and supports currently available in our area;
💙Explore what ‘Compassionate Communities’ could look like within our neighbourhood.
RSVP to help with catering arrangements by clicking here or email compassionatekensington@gmail.com or phone 0424324376
19 Nov: KRA Quiz Night & AGM
The KRA Quiz Night & AGM will be held on Tuesday 19th November. Register through Trybooking to attend the quiz & AGM to help with catering via this link https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1302310 Join a table or organise your neighbours to form a table of 6 and compete for glory and prizes in the Kensington Quiz!
If you are interested in joining the 2025 KRA Committee, please contact our Secretary NOW to nominate via email to contact@kra.org.au. Joining the KRA Committee is a great way to get involved with YOUR Association and work with other locals to make Kensington the best possible neighbourhood.
8 Dec: Plant & Produce Share
Plant & Produce Share in Borthwick Park, Sunday 8th November, 11.30am-12.30pm (after the working bee).
We’ll have a trading table set up under the shelter in Borthwick Park. Bring your excess potted plants, cuttings, seedlings, seeds and garden produce … whatever you have in abundance and would like to share.
Drop, swap and go… or stay for a while to meet a few locals and swap gardening tips. If you fancy, come a little earlier (11ish) and have a cuppa with the working bee volunteers 🙂
All leftover plants and produce will be left in the park shelter for passers-by to collect later.
8 Dec: Borthwick Park working bee
You can find Borthwick Park tucked between Second Creek and Thornton, Richmond Street and Bridge Streets in Kensington 5068. This lovely green space has been the focus of a revegetation project since 2009, instigated and driven by the community of Kensington, kindly supported by the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters and Green Adelaide.
Prior to commencement of the project the majestic remnant river red gums in the park were marooned in an expanse of kikuyu grass and the creek bank was weed-choked and badly eroded.
Working bees are held on the 2nd Sunday of every month 9-11am to maintain the shrubs, vines, grasses and ground cover understorey established over the past 15 years.
Join us in the park on Sunday 8th December between 9am and 11am. We’ll be topping up mulch to keep soil moisture in and weeds out, tip pruning shrubs, evicting pesky feral grasses, hose-watering the newer plantings, maybe constructing a native bee hotel if time allows… whatever needs doing!
Volunteering locally is a great way to meet new people in your neighbourhood. Bring the kids. Invite a friend or neighbour to volunteer with you. Jobs for all ages and capabilities. No prior gardening experience necessary. All training and tools are provided. Wear enclosed footwear, hat and clothing to suit the weather. Bring your KRA volunteer vest if you have one or we’ll issue you with on on the day.
If you can’t manage physical gardening work, you are most welcome to join us for morning tea from 11am. Free tea, coffee, and a delicious spread of morning tea treats on offer. We’d love to see you!
