Windback Wednesday - Kensington Gardens

A central portion of Kensington Gardens was once known as Pile's Paddock, taking its name from James Pile, who immigrated to South Australia in 1849 from Yorkshire. The Kaurna people, the Traditional Owners of the Adelaide Plains, were the first to live in this area and have cared for this land for thousands of years.

For decades Pile’s Paddock was a favoured spot for picnics, and was the location for the East End Market Gardeners’ annual picnic from 1881 to 1909 – a large and well-publicised event.

In 1906, the Bank of New South Wales purchased some of the land, which was subdivided by Kensington Gardens Ltd from 1910. The area was renamed Kensington Gardens, after Kensington Gardens in London.

Arguably inspired by the area’s history as a popular picnic and recreation area, part of the land was reserved as a public recreation ground in perpetuity, following a suggestion by Mr. H.J. Holden, Chairman of Kensington Gardens Ltd and a member of the Tramways Trust. This reserve was created on the condition that the tramline be extended to the site. This reserve became Kensington Gardens Reserve (Kensington Wama). As part of the development, an electric tramline was extended from the original terminus at The Parade/Gurrs Road intersection to Kensington Gardens Reserve. The tram line reached the reserve in July 1911, connecting it to the city. The reserve was acquired by the Council in 1932.

Photo: A tram travelling along The Parade at Kensington Gardens, circa 1911. Burnside Local History Collection. Thank you to Tom Wilson for assisting us with an accurate date for the photograph.