The neighborhood that is currently known as Kensington was formerly known as the “Epsom”, “Stannumville,” and “Lachlan Mills Estate.” It began as an industrial suburb before becoming Kensington in the late 1880s. In 1819, a land grant was given to Samuel Terry, the convict who went on to become the first billionaire in Australia.

In 1825, Daniel Cooper (1785–1853), another former prisoner, and Solomon Levey (1788–1853) purchased land here, which Cooper later bought out. Daniel, Cooper’s nephew (1821–1902), intended to split, but in 1865, all construction was prohibited. In the late 1880s, residential land was granted, with Kensington intended to be the equivalent of London’s prestigious Kensington area.