NSW · Randwick Council
Kensington (NSW), NSW, 2033
Desirability index
89.7/100
How this score is calculated#70 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Kensington (NSW) is a mid-sized suburb in the Randwick area, home to around 11,927 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 678 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with rising year-on-year trends (+12%), roughly 56.8 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $850 (flats $889, houses $1,348), 3 school and preschool sites in the area, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a higher concentration of local shops, services, and recreation amenities, 3 active roadworks or transport incidents on nearby routes, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb and hospitals or GP clinics within the suburb.
Population
- Population
- 11,927
- Median age
- 32
- Median household income / week
- $2,118
- Dwelling vacancy
- 17.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 931 of 5,284
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,760
- Employment rate
- 58%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 217 / 304 / 3,110
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $889
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $1,348
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $850
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 575
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · Period: January to March 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 678
- Against the person
- 121
- Against property
- 446
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 56.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 99 residents
- State safety percentile
- 4.3th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- +11.5%
Most common offence types
- Break And Enter Dwelling41
- Fraud94
- Malicious Damage To Property53
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault45
- Other Theft126
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Period: Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 3
- Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
- 1,120
- Kensington Public SchoolPrimary
- Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary
- Our Lady of the Sacred Heart CollegeSecondary
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
74 public transport stops in this suburb
- Day Av At Eastern Av
- Fitzpatrick Park, Eastern Av
- UNSW Gate 2, High St
- UNSW Gate 8, High St
- UNSW Mall Entrance, Anzac Pde
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
Roadworks & transport
3 active roadworks / incidents
- Allow extra travel time. Use public transport. <strong>Royal Randwick Race Day at Royal Randwick Racecourse</strong>. First race from 11am, last race from 4.35pm.Traffic will be heavier than usual on Anzac Pde, Doncaster Ave, High St, Alison Rd and Darley Rd as crowds travel to and from the event.Motorists should allow extra travel time and be aware of increased pedestrian activity on local roads.Anzac Parade, Alison Road, High Street, Royal Randwick Racecourse10 Jul 2026 – 11 Jul 2026
- RoadworksSouth Dowling Street, Lachlan Street10 May 2026 – 09 Jul 2026
- RoadworksTodman Avenue on-ramp, Eastern Distributor21 Jul 2026 – 28 Jul 2026
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · Hourly refresh where supported
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
315 planning-related records
2026· 28 proposals
June 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Barbecues and other outdoor cooking structures; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Fences; Pathways and paving; Skylights, roof windows and ventilators; Swimming pool79 MOORAMIE AVENUE KENSINGTON 2033Under Assessment
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation21 BALFOUR ROAD KENSINGTON 2033Additional Information Requested
- Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Recreation/Tourist Premise; Recreation facility (indoor); Hours of operation and trading186 ANZAC PARADE KENSINGTON 2033Under Assessment
- Subdivision5 LORNE AVENUE KENSINGTON 2033Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 VIRGINIA STREET KENSINGTON 2033Under Assessment
- Demolition; Place of public worship; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure1 ROMA AVENUE KENSINGTON 2033Under Assessment
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)165 DONCASTER AVENUE KENSINGTON 2033Additional Information Requested
May 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 LENTHALL STREET KENSINGTON 2033Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure27 MILROY AVENUE KENSINGTON 2033Additional Information Requested
- Advertising and signage; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Recreation/Tourist Premise; Recreation facility (outdoor)2-18 TUNSTALL AVENUE KENSINGTON 2033Determined
April 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Co-living2 ANZAC PARADE KENSINGTON 2033Under Assessment
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Fences; Garage, carport or carparking space; Residential Accommodation19 EASTERN AVENUE KENSINGTON 2033Additional Information Requested
- Boarding house; Advertising and signage176 ANZAC PARADE KENSINGTON 2033Under Assessment
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Swimming pool63 MOORAMIE AVENUE KENSINGTON 2033Determined
- Restaurant or cafe; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Retail Premise; Food and drink premise5 BOWRAL STREET KENSINGTON 2033Under Assessment
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure58 DONCASTER AVENUE KENSINGTON 2033Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation30 MOORAMIE AVENUE KENSINGTON 2033Under Assessment
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)28 TUNSTALL AVENUE KENSINGTON 2033Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure26 TUNSTALL AVENUE KENSINGTON 2033Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation101-105 TODMAN AVENUE KENSINGTON 2033Determined
February 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Recreation/Tourist Premise7/-/DP1173223Determined
- Subdivision7 INGRAM STREET KENSINGTON 2033Determined
- Boarding house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure176 ANZAC PARADE KENSINGTON 2033Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Other Infrastructure215B ANZAC PARADE KENSINGTON 2033Determined
January 2026
- Subdivision147-151 ANZAC PARADE KENSINGTON 2033Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies37 THE SERPENTINE KENSINGTON 2033Deferred Commencement
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Erection of a new structure26 MCDOUGALL STREET KENSINGTON 2033Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure26 ANZAC PARADE KENSINGTON 2033Determined
2025· 64 proposals
December 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool30 MOORAMIE AVENUE KENSINGTON 2033Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation30 MOORAMIE AVENUE KENSINGTON 2033Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure18 ADDISON STREET KENSINGTON 2033Additional Information Requested
- Shop top housing; Erection of a new structure147-151 ANZAC PARADE KENSINGTON 2033Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Tourist and visitor accommodation111 ANZAC PARADE KENSINGTON 2033Determined
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure10 WINKURRA STREET KENSINGTON 2033Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Other Infrastructure215B ANZAC PARADE KENSINGTON 2033Determined
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Fences2 KENSINGTON ROAD KENSINGTON 2033Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation1 ROMA AVENUE KENSINGTON 2033Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure42 MILROY AVENUE KENSINGTON 2033Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure62 LENTHALL STREET KENSINGTON 2033Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Semi-detached dwelling23 DONCASTER AVENUE KENSINGTON 2033Determined
2024· 45 proposals
45 proposals lodged in 2024. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2023· 45 proposals
45 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 57 proposals
57 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 58 proposals
58 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2020· 18 proposals
18 proposals lodged in 2020. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Period: 2020; 2020–2026; 2021… · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
268 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- atmXATM
- RediTellerATM
- Bbq (4)
- Nuics & SatoriBeauty salon
- Bench (19)
- Bike-ology WorkshopBicycle
Hilmer Building (E10) Union Road
- Barker Street Bike StoreBicycle Parking
- Bicycle Parking (34)
- UNSW (Security phone: +61 2 9385 6000)Bicycle Parking
- Bicycle Repair Station (5)
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
18 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Alumni ParkPark
- C Block LawnPark
- Eleanora Kopalinsky LawnPark
- Fitzpatrick ParkPark
- Helen Maguire LawnPark
- John Lions GardenPark
- Kensington ParkPark
- Kokoda Memorial ParkPark
- Library LawnPark
- Merilyn Sleigh LawnPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 10
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Chinses Medicine Acupuncture Massagealternative
- Clinic 238yes
- Just Smiles Dentistrydentist
- Kensington Newsagency and Pharmacypharmacy
- Kensington Physiotherapyphysiotherapist
- Michael Michael Optometristoptometrist
- Midical Centreyes
- Pharmacy@UNSWpharmacy
- University Health Servicedoctor
- Vital Health Medical Centreclinic
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 9/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Heritage
1 state heritage place
- Carthona85 Todman Avenue KensingtonSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
Childcare
2 childcare services from OpenStreetMap
- Goodstart Kensingtonchildcare
- SDN House at Pooh Cornerkindergarten
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 39
- Parks (OSM)
- 24
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability index
- Desirability score
- 89.7/100
- Cohort rank
- #70 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Day Av At Eastern Avtransport
- Fitzpatrick Park, Eastern Avtransport
- UNSW Gate 2, High Sttransport
- UNSW Gate 8, High Sttransport
- UNSW Mall Entrance, Anzac Pdetransport
- Goodstart Kensingtonchildcarechildcare
- SDN House at Pooh Cornerchildcarekindergarten
- Carthonaheritage85 Todman Avenue KensingtonSHR
- Chinses Medicine Acupuncture Massagehealthalternative
- Clinic 238healthyes
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Updated on site
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Updated on site
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Updated on site
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
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