Redfern – History and Transformation many land-­‐owners did not wish to rent Redfern is located in inner Sydney and is housing to Indigenous-­‐Australians. traditionally owned by the Cadigal, or Redfern’s social issues were growing Gadigal people. Often defined by four through the 1950’s. Around 12,000 streets; Eveleigh, Caroline, Hugo and Indigenous Australians were living in Hudson, the postcode actually stretches to Redfern at the time. Many were without a Surry Hills in east, Darlington in West, job and some were homeless. Waterloo in South and CBD in the north. In the 1960’s a movement began to grow. It was established as an industrial suburb Inspired by the Black Movement in the by the 1940’s and the railway was created United States, Indigenous leaders started in 1855. With the Eveleigh Railway to take action against their oppression. workshops opened from 1875, many Indigenous Australians came from remote parts of Australia to work. With a high demand for labour, the early 1920’s saw a boost of Indigenous workers settling in Redfern1. Eveleigh was one of Australia’s largest employers, but the 1930’s 2
depression led to many job loses With many Indigenous Australians settling in Redfern, a large community was growing in the suburb. When the depression came in the 1930’s, its consequences led to many being without work. Though this not only affected Indigenous Australians, it proved to be a bigger challenge for people to find other The Referendum in 19673, where Australia recognised Indigenous Australians in the census, was a starting point for a range of social and political change led by Indigenous Australians located in Redfern. They realised ‘Black power’ had authority and used it to gain their civil rights. With a right to vote and land rights, it was a huge leap forward for non-­‐Indigenous Australians. In 1970, the Redfern Aboriginal Legal Service was established. For the first time Aboriginal people were being represented in Sydney courts and were defending types of work and get equal pay. Also, http://www.redwatch.org.au/RWA/heritage Accessed 11th of November 2013 2
www.kooriweb.org/foley/resources/pdfs/228.pdf Accessed 11th of November 2013 http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/h
istory/australian-­‐1967-­‐referendum Accessed 12th of November 2013 1
3
1 charges brought against them4. spot for social and legal issues throughout this In 1972 the tent embassy was established in front of the parliament in Canberra and ‘Keating’s protested against mining on Indigenous Prime Minister Paul Keating was the first land, gaining nationwide attention5. These to ideas and actions that formed the Redfern Indigenous Australian faced to be a Black Movement influenced indigenous consequence of the wrongdoings done by political notions and actions for more than non-­‐Indigenous Australians. He gave ‘The a decade. Redfern Address’ in Redfern on the 10th of Many remember the Black Power era as a time of greater social, political and period. officially Redfern recognise Address’ the issues December 1992. Below is an extract of the speech. economic gains than at any time since. “And, as I say, the starting point might be to recognise that the problem starts with In the 1980’s, the biggest issue in Redfern us non-­‐Aboriginal Australians. It begins, I was housing availability. Not only was think, with that act of recognition. there a lack of housing, many houses were Recognition that it was we who did the also too small and the standard of the dispossessing. We took the traditional housing was low. The Aboriginal Housing lands and smashed the traditional way of Company owned many of the houses on life. We brought the diseases. The alcohol. the famously known ‘The Block’, but they We committed the murders. We took the had and children from their mothers. We practised maintaining the houses, as they received discrimination and exclusion. It was our trouble collecting rent 6
little public funding . ‘The Block’ was a hot 4
http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&es
rc=s&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CDMQFjAC&url=htt
p%3A%2F%2Ffaculty.arch.usyd.edu.au%2Fweb%2F
current%2Ftopic13%2FVanRaad%2BSo%2BPark%2
BLau%28T13%29%2F2_page_final_summary.doc&e
i=ET6FUv_EI-­‐
T6iQfNp4GwDQ&usg=AFQjCNFYR0OIuViREFZgQa9B
lYsuyuxazg&bvm=bv.56343320,d.aGc&cad=rja Accessed 15th of November 2013 5
http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/h
istory/aboriginal-­‐tent-­‐embassy-­‐canberra Accessed 12th of November 2013 6
http://www.creativespirits.info/australia/new-­‐
south-­‐wales/sydney/redfern Accessed 12th of November 2013 ignorance and our prejudice. And our failure to imagine these things being done to us”7. Redfern has received a lot of negative press. An article written about ‘The Block’ 7
http://antar.org.au/sites/default/files/paul_keating
_speech_transcript.pdf Accessed 11th of November 2013 2 in 2010 by ‘the Telegraph8’ uses words as ‘ghetto’, ‘endemic crime’ and ‘decaying homes’ to describe the area. Though Redfern has suffered through several riots and violent episodes, these descriptions in 2010 were misleading. The area had been cleaned up thoroughly and drugs were no longer a significant issue in the suburb9. Today, a mix of students, elders and families inhabit Redfern. Eveleigh Station was transformed to an art centre, with a restaurant, Sunday markets, an art gallery and theatre. With Redfern being located nearby to the University of Sydney and UTS, it is an attractive area for many young people. The ABC TV Series ‘Redfern now’ has tried to show the varied Indigenous community that lives in Redfern. Portraying some stereotypes that still lingers, it also shows the transformation Redfern has been through.
8
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/aus
traliaandthepacific/australia/8013160/Sydneys-­‐
notorious-­‐Aboriginal-­‐ghetto-­‐to-­‐be-­‐demolished.html Accessed 12th of November 2013 9
http://www.altmedia.net.au/42179/42179 Accessed 12th of November 3 Questions on “Redfern” 1. How could racism be considered a factor in the treatment of Indigenous Australians in Redfern? A) Because they were exposed to violence B) Because Indigenous Australians struggled to interact socially with non-­‐ Indigenous Australians C) Because they were denied equal possibilities and opportunities of non-­‐Indigenous Australians D) Because they didn’t have the same abilities as non-­‐Indigenous Australians 2. How did the ‘Black movement’ in Redfern inspire political action? A) It inspired other black people to take action B) By realising they did have some power, the first major political changes inspired other Indigenous Australians to keep demanding social rights C) It inspired political action all over Australia D) By refusing to work, non-­‐Indigenous Australians claimed their social rights 3. What did PM Paul Keating mean to when he talks about dispossessing in his ‘Redfern Address’ speech? A) Indigenous Australians losing their jobs during the Depression B) Indigenous Australians C) That non-­‐Indigenous Australians deprived Indigenous Australians of their land D) That non-­‐Indigenous Australians were responsible for Indigenous Australians sufferings as it were a consequence of the colonisation 4. Why does the A) Because B) Because C) To D) So it is easier to read media have to unbalanced the media not be careful in the way they write? reporting can misinform always tells the truth offend anyone www.reo.net.au | Ph: 1300 393 116 | e: [email protected] Red Earth Organisation, 43 Victoria St, McMahons Pt, NSW 2060