Kensington Estate

Suburb: Kensington

Two children walk up a sunlit path, holding hands, with the sun shining brightly overhead. Shadows and greenery line the walkway, and several people are visible in the distance.

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.

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

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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

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

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.

Two women stand outdoors, smiling at each other. One has gray hair and glasses, wearing a scarf and lanyard; the other has dark hair in a ponytail and wears a dark jacket. They have their arms around each other.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

About
Our Communities
Kensington Estate

About the Community

Today, Kensington Estate is a vibrant, inclusive neighbourhood where people from all walks of life live side by side in public, social, affordable, and private homes. Once home to one of Melbourne’s largest inner-city public housing estates, the area has undergone a remarkable transformation resulting in a thriving, mixed-tenure community that reflects the strength and diversity of its residents.

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.

Unison plays a central role at Kensington Estate as the community housing organisation responsible for managing public housing tenancies, alongside affordable and private housing. Through this integrated approach, Unison supports residents and helps foster a strong, inclusive and connected community. Kensington is also home to Unison’s Social Enterprise Team, which provides 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.

Community building

At Unison, we pride ourselves in building thriving communities. Our place-based office affords residents the ability to simply walk in and see their tenancy manager. Over the years we have built a solid rapport with the residents, which allows us to play a focal role in connecting residents with local services. We co-host several community events with partner organisations and facilitate resident-led initiatives. Our events are co-designed with a vastly diverse and multicultural group of residents to tailor every group’s needs.

Regular activities

Healthy Living & Learning Lunches: Every Thursday at 94 Ormond Street. We cook healthy meals and run info sessions on topics like legal advice, tech help, gentle exercise, and games. Activities are shaped by resident feedback. Partners: Melbourne City Council, Kensington Neighbourhood House, Cohealth, and Hotham Mission.
Monthly Outings: Cohealth organises monthly day trips for renters to enjoy time offsite.
Coffee Van Tuesdays: A local small business brings a coffee van every Tuesday, offering free coffee and a chance for residents to connect.
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 activities like Mahjong, a traditional Chinese tile game.
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

Playground and BBQ area within the estate

Sustainable Living

Food Forest, gardens, and compost hubs

Warun Biik Pathway

Runs through estate, managed by Melbourne City Council

Community Diversity

Kensington has a multicultural community, and a growing population of singles, couples, and families aged 19 to mid-80s.

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