History of Kingsford
Article in The Sydney Morning Herald – June 19, 1986
Suburb Outgrew its name
The Randwick Council has adopted the recommendation of its works committee that action be taken to have the name South Kensington changed to “Kingsford”, read the one-paragrah news story.
A few months later the name was official. Once again, the residents of the suburb adjusted their lives to accommodate the new title. Kingsford, formerly South Kensington (which was formerly Epsom), had finally hit upon a name that stuck.
It was 1935 that talks began of the need to change South Kensington’s name. For a start there was postal confusion between the suburb and it’s northern neighbour, Kensington.
Business often received letters with hand-written messages on the envelopes. “Please have your correspondence readdressed to South Kensington”, scrawled by hapless and anonymous postal workers.
South Kensington also began to outgrow neighbouring suburbs. In 1936 there were 3,000 houses in South Kensington, 1,800 in Kensington, 2,000 in Maroubra and 823 in Matraville. South Kensington perhaps feeling a little sibling rivalry, went to work to find a new name.
The local Chamber of Commerce launched an essay competition with a grand prize of one guinea for the best name. This eventually led to four finalists: Kingsford, Wembley, Chelsea and St Kilda.
The chamber warmed to Kingsford, a title which took its name from Sir Charles Kingsford Smith. In pushing for its adoption, the chamber said the name would be a “demonstration of its patriotism and pure Australianism”. Besides, they said, it was “distinctive and slipped easily off the tongue”.
The Randwick Council agreed. The changeover carnival was a glittering spectacle. The Mayor of Randwick, Alderman R.F. Bourke, officiated at the ceremony, which was followed by a gymkhana featuring horses in gaily coloured ribbons. A grand procession down Anzac Parade ended at the Nine Ways.
There was little opposition to the name change. The local South Kensington and District Newspaper changed its name to Kingsford and District News on the designated day, October 1, 1936.
Has Kingsford’s community spirit sustained throughout the decades? One will have to wait and see if the 50th anniversary celebrations rival those of the birth.
In 1936 the Kingsford Chamber of Commerce Formed.
Images of Kingsford’s History
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