Kensington Racecourse, Sydney facts for kids

Polo at Kensington Racecourse, a fun sport with horses.

The Anzac Corps Memorial at the UNSW Kensington campus.

Kensington Racecourse was once a special place in Sydney, Australia. It was a track where smaller horses, called ponies, raced. Today, this area is home to the University of New South Wales in a suburb called Kensington. The racecourse was open for many years, from 1893 until 1942.

During big wars like the Boer War and World War I and World War II, the racecourse changed. It became a training camp for soldiers. Many of the first Australian and New Zealand soldiers, known as Anzacs, trained here in 1914. They prepared for their journeys to places like Egypt and Gallipoli. A soldier named Archie Barwick wrote about his training experiences at Kensington in his diary.

After World War II, in the late 1940s, the site was used as a place for people moving to Australia to stay. Then, in 1951, construction began for the university that stands there today. One old building from the racecourse, called the Old Tote, is still there! In the 1960s and 1970s, it was a theatre. Now, it's known as the Figtree Theatre on the university grounds.

A Look Back at the Racecourse

The Kensington Racecourse was a busy place for almost 50 years. People would come to watch pony races and enjoy the excitement. It was a popular spot for entertainment in Sydney.

From Races to Training Grounds

When wars started, the racecourse played a different, very important role. It became a military camp. Soldiers learned how to be ready for battle. This shows how places can change their purpose during important times in history.

The Old Tote Building Today

It's cool that parts of the old racecourse are still around! The Old Tote building is a reminder of the past. It shows how history can be preserved even when new buildings are built around it. Today, it's a theatre where students and others can enjoy performances.

Images for kids

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  1902 Kensington Race Club racebook front cover

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  1902 Kensington Race Club raceday officials

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  1902 Kensington Race Club transport arrangements

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  1902 Kensington Race Club rules of racing

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  1902 Kensington Handicap showing the winner, Trinket

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  1902 Kensington Handicap starters and results

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  Back cover showing admission charges