Redfern Aboriginal Community Housing

In December 1972 a ban was placed on the demolition of empty houses on Eveleigh and Louis streets, Redfern which were occupied by Indigenous residents. Big developer IBK had purchased most of the houses, evicting tenants to renovate the properties into expensive townhouses. After spokespeople for the group, Bob Bellear and Dick Blair, reached out to Bob Pringle the BLF informed the development company that all work on the project was henceforth barred. This ban assisted significantly in Aboriginal resistance against the developer and ultimately led to the Federal Government’s purchase of the disputed houses on behalf of the Indigenous community in March 1973 as a community-run Aboriginal housing scheme. Known as the Redfern Aboriginal Housing Scheme, it provided much-needed low-rent accommodation in the form of 65 houses bounded by Louis, Caroline, Eveleigh, and Vine streets. Factories were converted into a cultural centre, a preschool, a medical centre, and a multipurpose hall; all operated and managed by Indigenous residents.

References
Verity and Meredith Burgmann, Green bans, red union: the saving of a city, 1998.

Research provided by Isabella Maher


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On the 50th anniversary of the Green Bans, the ideals of their struggle to protect heritage and environmental amenity for all to enjoy are more urgent than ever. In 2011 the Green Bans Art Walk and Exhibition (in two parts at The Cross Art Projects and The Firstdraft Depot Project Space), told the story of an inspired period, its charismatic leaders and grass-roots heroes. The project comprised a series of public guided walks between the exhibition venues functioned as a living instruction manual and moral compass charting stories of good and evil, creativity and conflict. Read more

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The Powerhouse Museum Alliance is a group of concerned citizens working to save the Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo. The Alliance includes longstanding benefactors of the museum, former trustees, design and heritage experts and senior museum professionals. Read more