Kensington | |
|---|---|
  Kensington  Kensington | |
| Coordinates:26°11′36″S28°6′22″E / 26.19333°S 28.10611°E /-26.19333; 28.10611 | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Gauteng |
| Municipality | City of Johannesburg |
| Main Place | Johannesburg |
| Established | 1897 |
| Area | |
• Total | 5.21 km2 (2.01 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
• Total | 19,197 |
| • Density | 3,680/km2 (9,540/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 45.9% |
| • Coloured | 6.4% |
| • Indian/Asian | 9.5% |
| • White | 37.0% |
| • Other | 1.3% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • English | 59.6% |
| • Zulu | 11.0% |
| • Afrikaans | 6.7% |
| • Xhosa | 2.5% |
| • Other | 20.2% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) | 2094 |
| PO box | 2101 |
Kensington is a hilly suburb ofJohannesburg,South Africa. It was established in 1897 by Max Langermann (after whom the thoroughfare Langermann Drive is named). It is located in Region F of theCity of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality[2] and is bounded to the west by the suburb ofTroyeville, to the east byBedfordview and the north byBruma andCyrildene.
Prior to the discovery of gold on theWitwatersrand in 1886, the suburb lay on land of one of the original farms calledDoornfontein.[3] Kensington is laid out over the slopes of severalkoppies (flat-topped, high-sided hills). The streets were laid out in 1903, with the suburb named by the owner of the land, Max Langermann. All of the streets coming off Langermann Drive are in alphabetical order and are named after British war ships.
The streets were heavily planted with trees, which give the area a distinctive, wooded appearance. Notable features of the suburb includeRhodes Park, named afterCecil Rhodes;Jeppe High School for Boys,Jeppe High School for Girls, Kensington Castle and theKensington Cross, along with other streets e.g. Emerald Street named on the far end of Kensington.[4]
The Kensington Cross is a memorial on Caledonia Hill, made out of granite with the shape of an Iona Cross, a superimposed sword (a 16th Century two-handed true claymore or claidheamhmor), the memorial proudly bears the Scottish shield of lion rampant and royal treasure. The inscription reads "Nemo me impune lacessit 1900".
Also known as theBoer War Cross of Iona, the statue has an identical twin. On the esplanade atEdinburgh Castle and the other is on Caledonia Hill, Johannesburg. The later is cared for by the Transvaal Scottish Association.
Kensington is also home to the headquarters for theChurch of Scientology of Johannesburg.[5]
There are several shopping centres and office parks in the area such as theEastgate Shopping Centre, Park Meadows Shopping Centre and thePick 'n Pay head offices. Kensington is a restaurant neighbourhood in development, with most restaurants and coffee shops amid theantique shops on Queen Street. There is an annual Spring Fest on the opening weekend of September.
There are several schools in the suburb. Kensington Ridge Primary School opened in August 1937.[6] Jeppe High School for Boys, Jeppe High School for Girls and Jeppe Prep are all located on Roberts Avenue. Leicester Road Primary school opened in 1938.[7]
