All News and Events
Fun at the Rising Sun
Owners Grant and Jacqui Goodall threw a wonderful party to celebrate 180 years since the Rising Sun Inn was built in Bridge Street, Kensington. Locals and other regular patrons joined in the fun by dressing in 1800s style. Happy big birthday to the Rising Sun and a big thankyou to the Goodalls for maintaining this icon of Kensington’s streetscape and Adelaide’s dining culture.
20 Oct CAP meeting UPDATE!
! UPDATE ! The Council Assessment Panel refused to approve demolition of 69 High St Kensington during their meeting on 20th October!! A WIN but the old Kensington elementary school building is NOT SAFE YET, as the applicants (owners) could appeal to the Environment Resources and Development Court to overturn or alter the CAP’s decision.
The Kensington Residents’ Association is continuing to pursue State Heritage listing for 69 High St. We have lodged a very detailed and extensively researched nomination with Heritage SA seeking State Heritage status for this neglected Kensington gem that dates from 1847.
To ensure neglected historic properties are better protected in the future, you can write to the Minister for Planning, the Hon Nick Champion (pictured below outside 69 High St), requesting that the recommendation from the Expert Panel for the Planning System Implementation Review (2023) regarding demolition by neglect is fully implemented as a matter of urgency. See page 225 of this report.
The Council Assessment Panel is obliged to follow the rules of the State Government’s Planning and Design Code, so this change to the code is crucial.
Write to the Minister at MinisterChampion@sa.gov.au .
Why is the building at 69 High Street so important? It is one of the oldest elementary school buildings in South Australia and one of the oldest single-room adaptive colonial buildings in existence. Built in 1847 it is the oldest still-standing example of a school associated with the Congregationalist movement championed by John William Roberts (1794-1875), who also built the 1848 Congregationalist Chapel, located in Maesbury Street beside Pioneer Park. The school at 69 High Street was specifically linked to Roberts’ ‘dissenter’ views and his desire to create Kensington Village as a model community based on the ‘Voluntary Principle’.
From the Book of Assessment for the Town of Kensington and Norwood 1849, the building was described as a ‘School Room’ and the occupier was Septimus Webster, a school master. An advertisement from the SA Register on 18 August 1856 shows that Mr Septimus Webster advertised for students for the Kensington Elementary School at the site.
Sandy Wilkinson, Heritage Consultant, in conjunction with Urathane Solutions, provided a report to the Council Assessment Panel at its May 2025 meeting when the Panel first considered the demolition application. The report outlined the heritage value of the building and argued that the building is not irredeemably beyond repair and should not be subject to demolition approval under the Planning and Design Code. The owners of 69 High Street have apparently has ignored this advice and are proceeding with the demolition application.
The Kensington Residents’ Association calls on the State Government to implement the 2023 recommendations from the Expert Panel for Planning Implementation Review, by changing the Planning and Design Code immediately to address “demolition by neglect”. The Expert Panel recommended that Councils be given the power to issue maintenance orders for Local Heritage Places and also to allow Council Assessment Panels to consider the cause of deterioration in demolition assessments (Reform 15: “To exclude deterioration due to neglect as a supporting factor for demolition”).
“The Panel heard that there is a penchant for local heritage places to be neglected and left to deteriorate to enable ease of their demolition in accordance with Performance Outcome 6.1 of the Code. The Panel considers this needs review to ensure the local heritage places are not being neglected and left dilapidated.” (Final Report and Recommendations: Expert Panel for the Planning System Implementation Review, page 225)
The South Australian Government may support this recommendation, but it has yet to be implemented.
If we lose the historic elementary school building, an important part of the story of South Australia will be lost forever. SOS! Save Our Schoolhouse!
26 Oct: Rising Sun Inn celebrates 180 years
—- THIS IS A RISING SUN INN EVENT —
The Rising Sun Inn will celebrate 180 years of history on 26th October from 12 noon to 7pm with
• live music
• giveaways from Coopers Brewery & Paracombe Wines
• prizes for the best period costumes, and
• special guest Robert Bria, Mayor of the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters, cutting the birthday cake!
Outdoor dining available in the carpark (high tables & stools under umbrellas) with a duo performing live from 1pm.
The Inn’s restaurant will be open for lunchtime a la carte dining, phone 83330721 to book a table.
No dinner service in the evening; however, the bar will remain open as from 4.30-6.30pm live band Sound Factory plays music of the 60s, 70s and 80s.
Borthwick Park ‘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, supported by the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters and Green Adelaide, for the past 15 years. It’s hard to imagine when you visit the Park today, but when the project began the creek bank was choked with weeds and badly eroded, and the precious remnant river red gums were marooned in an expanse of kikuyu grass.
🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳
Working bees are held on the 2nd Sunday of every month 9-11am to maintain the understorey plants established since the project began in 2009.
Join us in the park on Sunday 9th November between 9am and 11am. We’ll be pulling out weeds, topping up mulch, tip pruning shrubs, hose-watering the new plantings if rainfall is insufficient… 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.
Pizza in the Park – Spring 2026
Join the annual Pizza in the Park community gathering! Free wood oven pizza for KRA members!
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
12 Oct: Tim Costello Q&A
Rising Sun Inn, 60 Bridge Street, Kensington
3pm start
Tim Costello AO is one of Australia’s most respected community leaders and a sought-after voice on social justice issues, leadership and ethics. For 13 years Tim was Chief Executive of World Vision Australia. He is a spokesperson and advocate for the Alliance for Gambling Reform, which campaigns for law reform to prevent harm from poker machine and online sports gambling.
On Sunday 12th October 2025, commencing at 3pm, Tim will be speaking at a Q & A session at the Rising Sun Inn in Kensington.
This is your opportunity to meet Tim and ask him questions on world affairs, national politics, social issues, sport and anything else you like!
The Kensington Residents’ Association will be providing finger food and you can purchase drinks from the bar.
Numbers are limited, so book your FREE seat on TryBooking now https://www.trybooking.com/DEBHU
Care for Kensington grants – on offer in 2026
We think Kensington 5068 is the best place to live and we hope you do too.
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.
KRA AGM August 2026
The next Kensington Residents’ Association’s Annual General Meeting will be held in August 2026.
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.
11 May: Mothers Day working bee
Since 2010 the residents of Kensington have been working together to replenish the biodiversity and beauty of Borthwick Park.
This lovely green space bounded by Thornton Street, Richmond Street, Bridge Street and Second Creek is the focus of a community-led project supported by the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters and Green Adelaide.
Borthwick Park working bees are held on the 2nd Sunday of every month 9-11am. Come along on Sunday 11th May and see what we get up to.
It’s Mothers Day so we’ll be mothering our young plants, tucking them into comfy beds of mulch and giving the place a good tidy up!!
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 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.
Call John for more details on 0422 909 710.
If you can’t manage the physical work, you are still 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.
Winter Plant-a-thon … June/July 2026
Winter is planting time in Borthwick Park!
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.
