Kensington Racecourse, Sydney facts for kids

Polo at Kensington Racecourse

The Memorial linking the Anzac Corps with the University of New South Wales site at Kensington

The Kensington Racecourse was once a busy place where pony races were held in Sydney, Australia. It's now closed, and the land is home to the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in the suburb of Kensington. This racecourse was open for almost 50 years, from 1893 to 1942.

During its time, the racecourse wasn't just for horses. It played an important role during major wars. It was used as a military camp, especially during the Boer War and both World War I and World War II.

A Training Ground for Heroes

The Kensington Racecourse became a special place for many brave soldiers. In 1914, at the start of World War I, many of the first Anzacs trained here. These soldiers were getting ready to travel far away to places like Egypt and Gallipoli.

Anzac Training at Kensington

Imagine hundreds of soldiers practicing drills and preparing for battle right where a university now stands. This is what happened at Kensington Racecourse. A soldier named Archie Barwick wrote about his experiences training there in his diary. His writings give us a good look at what life was like for these soldiers before they left Australia.

From Racecourse to University

After the racecourse closed in 1942, the land was used for different purposes.

A Home for New Arrivals

In the late 1940s, after World War II, the site became a migrant hostel. This was a place where people arriving in Australia from other countries could stay. It helped them settle into their new lives.

The Birth of a University

Soon after, in 1951, construction began on the University of New South Wales. The land that once echoed with the thundering hooves of ponies and the shouts of soldiers was transformed. It became a place for learning and discovery.

The Old Tote Building: A Survivor

Even though the racecourse is gone, one special building from its past still stands. This is the Old Tote building.

A Theatre's Home

In the 1960s and 1970s, the Old Tote building became the home of the Old Tote Theatre Company. This theatre group put on many plays and performances. Today, this historic building is known as the Figtree Theatre. It's still part of the UNSW campus, reminding everyone of the site's long and varied history.

Memories in a Racebook

Old racebooks can tell us a lot about what events were like in the past. The 1902 Kensington Race Club racebook gives us a peek into a typical race day.

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  Front cover of the 1902 Kensington Race Club racebook.

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  Kensington Race Club showing raceday officials.

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  Kensington Race Club showing transport arrangements.

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  Kensington Race Club rules of racing.

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  Kensington Handicap showing the winner, Trinket.

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  Starters & results Kensington Handicap.

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  Kensington Race Club showing admission charges.