Borthwick Park, Thornton Street Kensington

2pm-4pm, Sunday 29th March 2026

Bring a neighbour or neighbours to Borthwick Park.  Bring the kids. Bring favourite games or sports – bocce, frisbee, finska, footy, soccer ball, whatever you like.

Scones with jam and cream, savoury snacks and sandwiches will be provided by the Kensington Residents’ Association, along with a selection of tea, coffee, cool drinks and wine.

If you prefer your own seating, bring it along; however, we will have plenty of chairs and trestle tables ready for everyone to use.

THIS IS A FREE EVENT. Please register online for catering purposes by clicking here.

Saturday 11th April, 10am – noon

Learn or practice the Wobbly Line Drawing Technique with local artist Deborah Smalley. No drawing experience necessary, anyone can draw with wobbly lines! Learn a little more about Kensington’s history as we sketch and wander along Phillips St from The Parade to the Pool.

Meet outside Karl Chehade Dry Cleaning, 296 The Parade, Kensington, ready for 10am start. We will do some warm up sketches at Chehade’s then walk up Phillips St to sketch another Kensington scene, pause to enjoy a drink or a snack at the High Street Café, then finish with a sketch of Kensington’s groovy 1950s public pool. All done by noon-ish.

Limited to 20 participants, suitable for ages 12 & up.

Register & pay online through Trybooking https://www.trybooking.com/DKCWR. Tickets $20 for Kensington Residents’ Association members, $30 for others.

Paper supplied for drawings. Pens and clipboards provided for use during workshop.

We will be sketching en plein air (outdoors). Bring your own folding chair or stool, comfy walking shoes and a hat for sun or umbrella for rain.

🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳

Working bees are held 9-11am on the 2nd Sunday of every month (except January) to maintain the understorey plants established since the project began in 2009.

Join us in the park on Sunday 12th April 2026 between 9am and 11am. We’ll be pulling out weeds, topping up mulch, tip pruning shrubs… 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.

Meet Kensington’s Clean Up Coordinator Peter Duffy in Borthwick Park, Thornton Street at 10am on Sunday 1st March 2026.

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.

Regroup in Borthwick Park to drop off your collected waste and recyclables and enjoy a free brunch cooked on the park barbeques by Kensington Residents’ Association members.

The KRA clean up is registered on the CUAD website here – and you can find out more about this national clean up by clicking here.

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 join the Sisters of St Joseph at the Bethany Centre (4 High Street) to sing a few carols.

Next the group will walk southeast on High St, then along Richmond St and though Borthwick Park to the Thornton St entrance of the Norwood Aged Cottage Homes (NACH).

We’ll make our way through the NACH property, exiting onto Bridge Street , and head up to the Rising Sun Inn to finish with a few carols inside the front bar 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 – 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 – tinsel, Santa hats, Christmas shirts, reindeer antlers…

Thanks to PGH Bricks & Pavers for the use of their mobile pizza oven.

Where? Borthwick Park, Thornton St Kensington

When? Spring 2026 – date to be confirmed

The KRA’s most popular event will be back on again in the Spring of 2026! We’ll be stoking the fire in the pizza oven ready for the residents and friends of Kensington to descend on the park with chairs, drinks, good spirits, and a hearty appetite. Bring your own plates and/or cutlery please.

The KRA committee will make and serve pizza until everyone is happily full. The usual team will be there, rolling, topping, baking, and slicing delicious pizzas for you as you mingle with fellow Kensingtonians, enjoying our beautiful Borthwick Park, and listening to live music performances by local musicians.

This is a family friendly event and a perfect opportunity to invite new friends or neighbours to meet other locals and make new connections.

Registration in advance is essential so we know how many people we’re catering for… then when you get to the Park on the day please check in at the registration table and pick up a name tag.

Not a KRA member yet? No worries! It’s just $15/household/year to join. Click here to download a membership form. Payment options are listed on the form. Return your completed form to our Secretary at 42 Regent Street or email to contact@kra.org.au

The Kensington Residents’ Association annually offers two grants to be spent on projects which benefit the Kensington community:

$1000 grant for adults (18 and over);

$250 grant for children (under 18).

Any project that benefits our fabulous suburb will be considered! It may be environmental, cultural, artistic, social, even virtual. Click here for some ideas to get your thoughts bubbling! 2025 grant guidelines are available here.

Who is eligible to apply? Anyone living in Kensington or on its perimeter roads who is a member of the Association (or living in a member household). Non-members may join on payment of our $15 annual fee.

Date, time and venue to be advised closer to the time.

Agenda items typically include:

Treasurer’s Report

President’s Report

KRA Committee election – KRA members present elect committee members and office-bearers to drive KRA activities for the coming year*

Other business

Guest speaker/s

Supper, wine, tea and coffee after close of meeting – a great opportunity to talk with the KRA committee, guest speakers, and Kensington friends and neighbours whilst enjoying one of the supper spreads the KRA is famous for!

* If you are interested in joining the 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.

Mid 2026 we will once again be planting and staking, then mulching around native seedlings in the Borthwick Park garden beds.

Jobs for everyone! Full training provided. Come by yourself or bring the family or a friend. All welcome! Kid-friendly events! Please wear clothing/footwear suitable for gardening.

Bring your KRA volunteer vest if you have one (if not, we’ll issue you one) and a couple of buckets if possible. Buckets are always in demand on planting days!

Why are we still planting in Borthwick Park? It seems to be already full of plants!

🌱Weed suppression – More native ground covers = less weeds in the beds.

🌱Replacement – Species like wattles and soft herbaceous plants are short-lived. Plants are regularly damaged during park activity or due to storms or heat.

🌱Diversity – Increasing the diversity of plant species maximises the health of the park.  Every year we try out new species of shrubs, grasses and groundcovers to attract new butterflies and birds and benefit our ancient River Redgums.  All species planted are indigenous to the local area, mostly sourced from Trees for Life as seedlings.  In the past local volunteers have also provided plants grown from seeds and cuttings collected in Borthwick Park.

Find out more about the widely acclaimed biodiversity project which has transformed Borthwick Park since conception in 2009 by clicking here.

Winter Solstice Open Mic! If you sing, play an instrument, do stand-up comedy or recite poetry please join in for the open mic. Register to perform via email to contact@kra.org.au or put your name on the board on the night. Acts limited to 10 minutes length.

7.00pm onwards. Free Entry! Free Finger Food!

Where? Regent Room, Kensington Hotel, 23 Regent Street, Kensington

Discount drinks for KRA members. You are welcome to join the KRA on the night ($15 for 1 year membership).

Past events:

21 June 2025 Open Mic & Kensi Frenzy Singalong

22 June 2024: Winter Solstice Open Mic featuring Daddy Crow

22 June 2023: The Apocalyptic Winter Solstice featuring live music by Apocalyptic Breakdown, The Rude Mechanicals plus open mic opportunity