There’s no better way to spend the darkest and longest night of the year, than at the Kensington Residents’ Association’s Winter Solstice event at The Kensi Hotel.

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.

Starting time to be announced asap! 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 – see posters below:

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

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.

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.

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

Kensington residents and friends gather annually to walk through our suburb singing Christmas Carols as we go. Join us for a fun, family-friendly activity and sing-in the season! 

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…

On the first Sunday in March, Kensington residents 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 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.

Celebrate neighbourly connections in Kensington on Neighbour Day!

Borthwick Park, Thornton Street Kensington

Time and date to be advised closer to March 2027.

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.

Food and drinks provided by the Kensington Residents’ Association.

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

This very special event has been proudly arranged by the Norwood Football Club and the Kensington Residents’ Association over 3 consecutive years and we hope to run it again in 2027.

Primary school age kids accompanied by their adult caregiver are invited to join in some fun at Norwood Oval.

🏈Participate in a coaching session and have a kick on the Oval (dress warmly and wear shoes to kick in but no footy boots please!)

🏈Meet Norwood Redlegs players

🏈Behind-the-scenes tour of team facilities

🏈Refreshments for the kids e.g. pies, pasties and a drink

🏈Norwood FC gift to take home.

Event registration is essential. Limited to 25 children in total. A responsible adult must be registered to accompany every family group of 1-3 children.

Online registration link will be advertised in advance of the 2027 event.