Kensington Gardens, South Australia facts for kids

Kensington Gardens is a suburb located in the eastern part of Adelaide, Australia. It is managed by the City of Burnside. A major feature of the area is a large park known as Kensington Wama, or Kensington Gardens Reserve.

A Look Back: History of Kensington Gardens

Before European settlers arrived, the Kaurna people were the traditional owners of this land. They lived here for many years.

The area later became known as Pile's Paddock. This name came from James Pile, who moved to South Australia in 1849 from England.

Pile's Paddock was a popular place for picnics. Over time, a part of this land was set aside forever as a public park. This idea came from Mr. H.J. Holden, who suggested it if a tramline could reach the park.

This special park is now Kensington Wama, or Kensington Gardens Reserve. It was created around 1908–1909 and covers about 40 acres.

In 1906, the Bank of New South Wales bought some land from William Pile. They divided it into smaller blocks in 1910. Around the same time, the suburb was renamed Kensington Gardens. It was named after the famous Kensington Gardens in London.

An electric tram line was built to reach the new park. This tramline was an extension of the Kensington Line. It was part of the first electric tram network in Adelaide trams, which started in 1909.

Stonyfell Creek flows through the Kensington Gardens reserve. A part of the park, including the south-eastern corner, was once a burial ground for the Kaurna people.

Between 1910 and 1920, the park hosted an annual sweet-pea flower show. In 1920, some trees were cut down to create a bowling green in the park's north-east corner. By 1923, Mr. A.H. Matthews had designed part of the park as a garden.

The name Kensington Gardens was used for both the suburb and the park. The artist and musician Gustave Barnes lived in Kensington Gardens before he passed away in 1921.

Park Makeover: The 2020s Renovation

In 2021, a big project started to improve and replant the reserve. This included building a wetland to manage stormwater. The federal government gave $3 million for this project. The South Australian Government also provided $850,000, along with other supporters.

The park officially reopened in January 2022. The project worked closely with the Kaurna traditional owners. They also approved the park's new dual name, Wama (wah-ma), which means "plain" or "flat country."

Sports Fun: Lawn Bowls and Tennis Club

On February 19, 1919, a group of World War I veterans and volunteers decided to start a lawn bowls club. Their first official meeting was in September of that year.

The members and volunteers built the first clubhouse themselves. This original building is still there today. It opened on October 30, 1920.

In 1925, members decided to split the club into two parts: lawn tennis and bowling. This made it easier to manage both sports.

In June 1929, plans were made to make the clubhouse bigger. Architects F. Kenneth Milne, Evans and Russell designed an extension. This new part would be used for serving afternoon tea. New dressing rooms and showers were also added. The club reopened in October that year.

In 1955, the club treasurer planned another extension. This added a new locker room and a visitors' room. More additions were built in 1976.

In 1995, the bowls section joined with the Marryatville Bowling Club. It then became the Kensington Marryatville Bowling Club. In 2006, the men's and women's bowling sections combined into one. As of 2024, the club's official name is Kensington Gardens Bowling & Tennis Club.