Kensington Estate

Suburb: Kensington

Three older adults stand together at a kitchen window, smiling and preparing a salad. They are dressed in colorful sweaters and appear to be enjoying each other’s company while cooking.

A man and child walk on a footpath between modern apartment buildings, with bare trees and a colorful abstract sculpture on a pole nearby. It is a sunny day.

Two older adults, one man and one woman, sit on a wooden bench outside, smiling and talking. The man holds a cane and wears a scarf; the woman wears sunglasses. There are books and a mug nearby, and a building in the background.

Modern white apartment building with large windows and black trim, viewed from below with tree branches in the foreground and a blue sky above.

A person hands a plate of food to another person wearing a scarf and jacket, suggesting a meal being served in a community or charitable setting. A pot and mug are visible on the table.

A group of elderly people sit around a table playing mahjong. They are smiling and appear to be enjoying each others company in a bright, indoor setting.

Modern apartment buildings with glass balconies frame a lush green garden with red flowers in the foreground, under a partly cloudy blue sky. Trees and more buildings can be seen in the background.

Three older women stand together indoors, smiling at the camera. Two wear patterned sweaters and hats; one wears glasses and a staff lanyard. Other people are visible in the background, sitting at tables.

A woman wearing a black unison jacket smiles while talking with a group of people outdoors. The group appears to be engaged in a friendly conversation.

A narrow paved path lined with green plants and wooden railings runs between modern apartment buildings and trees on a bright, sunny day.

A group of people stands outside a building, casually talking and smiling. One woman in the center wearing glasses and a gray sweater laughs while interacting with others. The setting appears to be friendly and informal.

A young child wearing a dark coat stands outdoors on wood chips, looking at the camera and holding up one hand with fingers slightly spread, as if waving or showing their palm.

Sunlight shines through the branches of a large tree in a quiet outdoor area with benches, stairs, and a pathway. The scene is shaded, with lush greenery and a peaceful atmosphere.

An elderly man smiles while eating a meal at a table with other seniors in a communal dining setting. He holds a fork and napkin, and other people are also enjoying their food in the background.

Yellow jade plants and white flowers grow in a landscaped garden, with modern apartment buildings and balconies visible in the background.

An elderly man wearing a dark coat and scarf sits on a bench outdoors, looking thoughtfully at another person in the foreground. Another person is seated in the background.

About
Our Communities
Kensington Estate

Kensington Estate is a vibrant community housing public, social, affordable and private residents.

Unison plays a central role at Kensington Estate as the community housing organisation responsible for managing tenancies. Through its integrated approach, Unison supports residents and helps foster a strong, inclusive and connected community.

As well as residents, Kensington Estate is also home to Unison’s Social Enterprise Team. The team provide professional cleaning and gardening services across the estate and throughout Melbourne, creating local employment opportunities and contributing to the upkeep and pride of the neighbourhood.

History of the community

Once home to one of Melbourne’s largest inner-city public housing estates, the Kensington area has undergone a transformation in recent years, resulting in a thriving and mixed-tenure community.

This proud community is the legacy of a landmark redevelopment initiated in 1999 by the Bracks Government. It was the first project in Australia to revitalise a high-rise public housing estate through a public-private partnership, integrating private housing and reconnecting the site with the broader Kensington neighbourhood. Just as important as the physical transformation was the focus on rebuilding the social fabric of the community.

Regular activities

At Unison, we pride ourselves on building thriving communities. Our place-based approach means that residents can simply walk in to speak to a tenancy manager on-site. Over the years we have built a solid rapport with the residents, which has helped us to connect them with local services. We co-host several community events and activities with partner organisations and facilitate resident-led initiatives:

Healthy Living & Learning Lunches
Every Thursday Mt Alexander College students prepare hot, healthy meals for Kensington residents — a partnership with Kensington Neighbourhood House, Melbourne City Council, Cohealth, and Hotham Mission.
Monthly Outings
Cohealth organises monthly day trips for residents to enjoy time away from home.
Food Relief
Unison collects 30 food hampers every fortnight from Hotham Mission. Residents can discreetly access these through our office when facing food insecurity or cost-of-living pressures.
Arabic Classes
Weekly Arabic language classes run by a resident from our Somali community.
Kensington Chinese Friends Association
This resident group hosts weekly social activities. Popular sessions include Mahjong twice a week and fortnightly group exercise, offering support and companionship to elderly residents.
Diabetes Support Group
Weekly sessions run by Cohealth with interpreters and dietitians, focusing on healthy eating and managing diabetes.
Homework Club
Kensington Neighbourhood House runs an after-school club to support students and help parents connect.
Craft & Crochet Group
A resident-led initiative that’s become very popular.

Park & Facilities

Plenty of green spaces and parks, with playgrounds and BBQ areas for socialising and outdoor gatherings.

Sustainable Living

Food Forest and compost hub for residents to grow their own fruit and veg, maintained by our Social Enterprise Team.

Warun Biik Pathway

Runs through the estate, providing easy access to community spaces for residents and staff. The pathway is managed by Melbourne City Council.

Community Connection

In addition to a host of activities, Unison has launched a café in partnership with VMCH to bring Kensington residents together.

Where is My Coffee? Kensington

In December 2025 Unison proudly opened Where Is My Coffee? (WIMC) Kensington in partnership with leading disability provider, VMCH.

WIMC is a vibrant social enterprise café in the heart of Kensington, offering on-the-job training and employment pathways for people with disability while creating a welcoming hub for residents and visitors alike.

Drop by, support the café, and maybe make a friend or two:

Address: 56 Derby St, Kensington

Hours: Mon–Fri, 8am–3pm

Find out more

A person wearing a blue cap and dark shirt sits on a wooden bench in a garden, smiling and holding a tabby cat on their lap, surrounded by green plants and sunlight.

“The great thing about living here is the quiet and I live a life with peace. Straight away I met good people.”

Luka, Kensington Resident A garden, a cat & a home that is sanctuary

“In English this area is called Kensington but it sounds similar to the Chinese word 開心, or Kāixīn [pronounced kye – sing], which means happy, so everybody in the group is telling others ‘we are living in a happy area.”

Mei, Kensington Resident Kensington - a happy place

Kensington Estate