[1] It is bounded by Princes Street, the northern end of Anderson's Bay Road, and the Dunedin Southern Motorway.

The city's Boer War memorial, which stands at the northern corner of the Oval, was designed by Carlo Bergamini and erected in November 1906.

[3][4] The first first-class cricket match in New Zealand was held on the ground in February 1864, when Otago played Canterbury.

[5] The condition of the playing surface was generally unsatisfactory, with old tree roots protruding from the ground and the pitch unpredictable and at times dangerous to batsmen.

Although representative matches are no longer played at the Kensington Oval, it is widely used for club, grade, and social cricket, and has two grass and three artificial wickets,[8] as well as a pavilion.