–Join the Borthwick Park summer watering roster!

Spend some peaceful time watering our newest plantings, watching the birds frolic in the River Redgums, and maybe meet a few locals to-ing and fro-ing through this magical green space. 

Simply email our Secretary at contact@kra.org.au to volunteer to hose-water once (or more if you like) during December-March. Please advise any dates you aren’t available.

Once the roster is finalised you’ll be advised which week and which zone of the park you’ve been allocated to water. The mid-year plantings (small or staked plants) and any stressed plants need to be watered just once in your allocated week and the task should take no more than 1-2 hours… choose your best time to water.

If you’ve not watered in the park before, we’ll arrange a time to show you the water points and all the hoses and connections stored in the park shed. We have a handy trolley to wheel the hoses to the water points.

See you in the park this summer!

Denise Schumann OAM, Historical & Heritage Consultant, and Dr Christel Mex, SA Greens Candidate for Dunstan and local resident, will tell the tragic tale of the SA Planning System and its failure to protect one of Kensington’s oldest heritage-listed buildings at 69 High Street (c1843) from demolition.

A great opportunity to learn more about the history of Kensington, and how the planning system can improve so this doesn’t happen again.

Date: Monday 23 February at 7.00pm
Venue: The Rising Sun, 60 Bridge St, Kensington

All welcome. Gold coin donation for Hutt Street charity.
Drinks available for purchase from the bar.

Capacity to seat 50 people only. Reserve your space now through Humanitix https://events.humanitix.com/lost-forever-the-last-call-before-the-bulldozers-arrive

This modest building at 69 High Street was formerly the Kensington Village school house. It is thought to have been built in the 1840s-1850s.

Although the building has stood firm for approximately 180 years, it now stands cordoned off, urgently requiring maintenance. In February 2025 the property owners submitted a Development Application under the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 (SA) seeking to demolish this Local Heritage building. The relevant authority considering the application is the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters Council Assessment Panel/Assessment Manager.

Both the built and natural heritage of Kensington – the character-laden buildings, the magnificent remnant river red gums, the ancient creekline – were here before we arrived. It’s important to remember that we are not so much ‘owners’ but rather ‘custodians’ of the living history in our suburb. The Kensington Residents’ Association was formed in 1977 by a group of concerned residents seeking to protect the suburb’s heritage and resolve other issues of community concern.

The Association was instrumental in the declaration of Kensington as an Historic Conservation Zone: three levels of heritage listing protect many buildings that otherwise might have been demolished. In 2014 the KRA campaigned to preserve 63 Maesbury Street (pictured below). Take a stroll down Maesbury Street to No. 63 and and you’ll see how subsequent owners successfully restored and extended this quaint cottage.

The KRA has now opposed the demolition of 69 High St through written and verbal presentations to the Council Assessment Panel (CAP). Approximately 30 KRA members and supporters attended the CAP meeting at Norwood Town Hall on 19th May 2025. Heritage consultant Sandy Wilkinson and Trent Kuchel from Urathane Solutions submitted their professional assessment that the damage to 69 High St is readily repairable, therefore demolition is not warranted. The Council Assessment Panel deferred their final decision on the 69 High Street demolition application pending further consultation.

The KRA will advertise to members when the demolition application for 69 High Street will next be considered by the CAP. The public can observe the meeting from the gallery and we encourage as many people as possible to attend to show the CAP how important heritage preservation is to the residents of Kensington.

Watch this space, watch 69 High Street, and if you share our concerns for its future write to :

Member for Dunstan, Cressida O’Hanlon MP (dunstan@parliament.sa.gov.au)

Council’s General Manager Urban Planning & Environment, Carlos Buzzetti (cbuzzetti@npsp.sa.gov.au)

Ward Councillors Christel Mex (cmex@electedmembers.npsp.sa.gov.au) and John Callisto (jcallisto@electedmembers.npsp.sa.gov.au)

A one-day music and food festival celebrating High Street Café’s 5th birthday.  

Sunday 5^th October 2025, 10am-8pm, Mary MacKillop Reserve, Phillips Street (adjacent to High Street Cafe)

Family fun from 10am  – magic show, face painting, balloon art, and more.

Acoustic sets over lunch, building to a full evening of live bands including Mr Buzzy, Eric ‘Tooch’ Santucci and the Gold Coast’s McKenzie Band. DJ between sets to keep the energy pumping!

Early bird tickets $20 adults, $10 children 5 to 15 years – buy online through Trybooking: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1450788

Upgrade to $100 VIP entry (adults only) for festival entry plus premium stage-front access during headline acts with a 4-hour drinks + food package 4–8pm.

Bring your friends, enjoy the vibe, and celebrate High Street Café’s 5 Years on the Green!

Congratulations to Kensington’s Sister Mary Ryan, recipient of a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours.

Sister Mary is an active member of the Catholic community and the broader Kensington community. She was awarded an OAM in recognition of her service to the Catholic Church of Australia and the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart. Some of Sister Mary’s many achievements include:

• Member, Adelaide Archdiocesan Pastoral Council, 2022-2025.
• Director, Mary McKillop Precinct, Kensington, South Australia, since 2013.
• Author, Monthly Reflections on Mary McKillop, Inspiration from our Founder’s’ section, Mary MacKillop eNews, 2009-2019.
• Executive Officer, Catholic Vocations Ministry Australia, Sydney, 2001-2006.
• Councillor, Provincial Leadership, Melbourne, 2008-2012.
• Founder and Co-ordinator, Ecumenical Chaplaincy Team, LaTrobe University, Bendigo, 1995-2000.
• Co-founder, St Luke’s Parish, Wantirna, Victoria, 1979-1983.
• Sister, since 1969.

Click here to read Sister Mary’s fascinating backstory and here to read her responses to the OAM nomination and receipt of the award.

Sister Mary successfully steered the Mary MacKillop Museum through a major redevelopment to its reopening in 2019 at 4 High Street Kensington (next to High Street Cafe). The Museum was designed to have wide appeal to both religious pilgrims and the general community. Pop in for a tour soon – the Mary MacKillop Museum is a Kensington gem, just like Sister Mary Ryan.

Read the information below.

Visit Pioneer Park and think about the proposal.

Meet Amanda Balmer from WAX Design in Pioneer Park 4pm Friday 2nd May to ask questions and provide feedback.

Complete our online survey by clicking here and/or email the KRA Secretary at contact@kra.org.au to provide feedback.

This period of community consultation finishes on 2nd May to enable us time to prepare a grant funding application.

The draft Inter-war Housing Heritage Code Amendment focuses on buildings built between World War 1 and World War 2 which are worthy of heritage listing or additional protection.

This change is proposed through an amendment to the Planning & Design Code (the State-wide Planning Policy document).

The Code Amendment proposes to list 20 new Local Heritage Places and introduce a new Historic Area which includes 32 dwellings, together with some minor zoning changes to surrounding properties. The proposed changes seek to protect the eligible buildings from adverse development outcomes e.g. demolition or significant modifications to original parts of the building.

The majority of the buildings which will be affected by the proposed changes are in Heathpool, a neighbouring suburb to Kensington.

Click here to download and review the draft code amendment and other relevant documents, then either join a drop-in session at Town Hall (13 November 6-8pm or 14 November 2-4pm) and/or complete the online form to have your say.