Hi, My name is Andreas. I'm one of the newest pieces to the Redfern history and belong to a group that some people might see as a threat to an affordable south Sydney environment - I'm an international student. After not being able to find a single proper book on the history of Redfern I found this site. I've been reading it for a few months now and I love it. Andreas Haglund

Redfern is my family, place, home where I meet beautyfull ppl, brothers and sisters. Place where every one look at you as another human being. Be living in Australia almos 6 years , all this time no one made me feel like a stranger, training at the gym and be supported by every one, thanks to all specially the community. Save the block. Indiana

Redfern/Fitzroy

The relationship between Redfern and Fitzroy during the late 60s, 70s and 80s was of utmost importance. Having the same vision in Aboriginal Health politically bonded a stream of 'black activists' up and down the eastern coast of Australia. Soon after this 'bond' expanded into Brisbane and hence the beginnings of the black power movement ( Bruce Mac and Bob Mazza invited Carribean activist Roosevelt in 1969 at AAL). Small groups of Redfern people moved to Melbourne and vise versa... Kevin Smith established the first Aboriginal Rugby team in Melbourne and players from the famous Fitzroy Stars Football Club (aussie rules) would give them a hand and play if they were 'short'. The most powerful National black organisation in the history of this country, NAIHO, would never have been as effective as it was if the the bond between Redfern and Fitzroy hadn't been what it was... Black Lace used to come to Melbourne and play for 'special occasions' including Koori Kollij Health Worker Education Program graduation... 'Cabaret's' at Collingwood Town Hall and they would pack em to the hilt... Everyone had a personal connection with the band members because they were a part of us and came from the same 'black ghetto' as Fitzroy people...

Kelvin Onus-King

109 Eveleigh Street circa 1913

I understand that the terraced housing was purchased by the Aboriginal Community back around the seventies. Would anyone have any old photographs of the building prior to demolition? This block of terraces stood directly across from Caroline Street and we also think that Louis Street was named after Louis Eugene. My great grandparents were living in the terrace houses and it is also part of my heritage and I am trying to trace where my family lived. Louis Eugene was born in 1835 originally from Mauritius. He arrived by boat back in 1840/50, married an Irish girl and started the Eugene name here in Australia. One son also named Louis Eugene was born in Balmain 1870. Louis and his second wife Annie raised their family of 7 girls in 109 Eveleigh street, and I understand that they were there for some time.

I know that the above story has no meaning to your organisation but all in all it is still a family history  and if you have any photographs of the terrace house in question I would love to have a copy. (or any snippet of information will do) Kind Regards, Steven

PS Caroline was born in 1913 and her birth certificate states that she was born in the terrace 109 Eveleigh Street, they went on to have 6 more girls and the last born around 1924 approx. How long they lived there before Caroline was born I have no idea. I also have the (Electoral Roll) for 1913 saying that they live at 107 Eveleigh Street. I think by 1927 an L Eugene was living at 13 Hugo Street, but in saying that Louis worked at 378 George Street as a Hairdresser plus a Louis Eugene living in Antwerp Street. I think that this Louis is the father from Mauritius born 1834.

Steven Welch 'steven-welch@msn.com'

Hello guys,

My name is Alinta Laurie, im from the nrth coast

and i came from the Bundjalung tribe...

Just want to say that your site is really deadly

the photos are deadly too....

I've been to the block a couple of times...

but dat was only when the knockout was on... ha ha

Anyways the real reason im writing is i really need to find information about my dad... i heard that he was seen around in that area or in Glebe in the last year or two....

his name was Harold Carpenter..

People used to call him ( MISTREE )

He recently just passed. So thats why i really need info.

So if in any way you's could help plz get bak to me on my email address

And i hope to hear from you guys soon

Thank you

Alinta Laurie

Hi, I am a student at Moorefield Girls High School situated in Kogarah, Sydney Australia. We have a school tradition, where every year or second year, we as a school conduct an anti-discrimination day, to represent the cultural differences in our school. Throughout the day we hold food stalls, workshops and concerts. It has been a tradition of ours to have Uncle Max conduct his smoking ceremony during our morning assembly. This year we were unable to contact him; we believe that Uncle Max has had a change of contact details. If there is any possible way that we could receive his contact details though this website it will be muchly appreciated by all the students at Moorefield Girls High School. Thank you. Moorefield prefect body

Subject: Finally visiting 'the Block' after 40 years of knowing of this site in the heart of Sydney.

Hi my name is Patrick Ngarigbalangi Anderson, I am a middle aged Indigenous Australian male, an educator and community development practitioner from Katherine NT, have been employed with Batchelor Institute for close to 15 years as a lecturer, Council (Board) member and now as the Senior Advisor - Community Engagement.

I'm happy to state that I was so excited to recently visit 'the Block' (11 January 2009) with my wife, while visiting Sydney for the first time.  We took the train from Circular Quay in the CBD to Redfern and on our arrival to the Redfern train station I was abit shocked to see that there were approximately 8-10 uniformed policemen - my first thought was that they were simply waiting for something to erupt at the 'Block', I could be wrong in stating this though.

For almost 35 years, I 've read many negative and positive social and economic aspects in newspapaers (i.e. Koori Mail and occasionally in the Australian) about this unique and iconic place, where Aboriiginal people tend to gather in the heart of Sydney for numerous reasons and I've always wanted to see the place for myself. 

Anyway folks, I can now say that I've been to the well known place in Redfern called 'the Block' to see for myself the local housing, Mundine boxing gym, community centre and the people who remain living in this setting. 

My first impressions of 'The Block' is that a majority of the infrastructure it is quite run down, it is in a perfect location from the train station, it is definitely a place where a range of creative enterprises could be established, promoted and be opened to the wider community - all of which could showcase 'The Block' / Aboriginal people in this area, in a more positive light than I believe the people are currently being portrayed by the wider public in Oz. 

After living and working in a number of remote Aboriginal communities in the NT myself employed as a tradesman and community development practitioner - and creating numerous / meaningful projects in close consultation with the people (all ages) from my visit to the 'Block' I've been able to personally see for myself the numerous possibilities that this community could work towards developing.  In stating this, I want to remark that I was quite shocked to see that very little seemed to be happening in the Redfern community -  to enhance the lives of the remaining people living at the block. I'm sure however that there are a handful of people linked closely with the 'Block' who are trying to value-add to this place in an assortment of ways, to ensure that this iconic place will always remain a signifcant meeting place for Aboriginal people. It would be great to know that the traditional owners /elders from the Redfern area are making an effort to communicate with a number of nearby Aboriginal organisations /communities to create a few meaningful and sustainable partnerships/enterprises - which could support and kick start the following; an Art Centre, Age Care support, Rehabilitation / Recreation centre and to encourage some basic onsite training to occure for locally interested men and women so that potentially a Building (Repair & Maintenance) teams can be developed. Who knows if the latter training was to take place eventually a small team could manage/resurrect the current housing stock - for historical/tourism purposes.

In closing my thoughts of what Redfern means to me; is that it is an iconic place for local Koori Aboriginal people to gather and it should alway remain this way, against all odds it is vital that this place exists as a gathering place forever and is NEVER ever sold. I cannot speak for the people who hold close to their hearts this place as their own, all I can say is that there needs to be a massive cultural shift in how local Aboriginal people see the future of this place, how it should be developed (NOW) and promoted so that millions of visitors to Sydney/Australia from all around the world could make it a place that they MUST visit. The Block and its people could potentially provide tours in and around the block - including visit to Aboriginal sacred sites around Sydney, art work could be produced by local people from Redfern, including stories and the history of the place to name a few possible ideas.

This is my ten cents worth - thanks for the great memory of seeing the 'Block'. 

Patrick Anderson

I was director of the department in the Methodist Church (before it became Uniting Church) when we were running programs in the old 'Ëpworth Press' building in the early 1970s. We opened a hostel called Jinbaram on the northern part of the site in 1972 and had programs running on the other southern side. At one stage there were 17 different groups using the property and at times the Black Theatre and Murawina had contact. In 1981 the Church (by then Uniting Church) decided to make the property available to the Aboriginal people.  Charles Perkins was involved and at the 1982 General Assembly of the church in Adelaide (the federal body) he said, 'I found the Uniting Church was fair dinkum so bugger it I came to this meeting to talk to you.'  I have the full text of his address (and that comment) on tape if anyone is interested. Richard (Dick) Udy

I was fascinated to read the material on your website. It is a great record of some people I knew 'long time ago'. The picture on Page 42 under Gadigal Information Services and Koori Radio shows the little white semi-detached building (with Radio Redfern arrow) where we ran the apprenticeship hostel Jinbaram for Aboriginal boys, mainly from the country. The leaders were Stan Simon and his wife from Taree. I have pictures of the opening by the Minister Waddy in 1972. The building marked ‘Black Theatre’ was previously Epworth Press and before that the Wesleyan (Methodist) church of Redfern. The street was called Botany STREET then to distinguish it from Botany Road.  If I can be of any help please let me know.
Richard (Dick) Udy

I've been using the website redfernoralhistory.org recently and it has been a great help to me in my project in conjunction with the Aboriginal Housing Company. I've been doing a report on the tourist potential of the block in conjunction with the Pemulwuy project. Hi Lyn, i believe i met you at Gordon Syron's gallery a few weeks ago briefly. I hope you don't mind that i've used the timeline on your site to document the history of redfern up until 1967, however i've also used various other sources, mainly Cracknell and Lonergan's unfinished report on Redfern history to continue a timeline up until now.  Considering your timeline is incomplete i would happily send you what I came up with if you want to use it on your site.
 
Regards James Hoff

Reply: Yes, yes, yes, thank you.

cool stuff fellas

I'm currently doing research for access 10 lesson and I'm learning about the Aboriginal culture. It's good to learn the way they live. There are two NR's diesel locos painted in Aboriginal dot painting, the two locos I can id for you are NR 30 and NR 52.  I can't remember the names of the two NRs. I see them at time to time if they are here in Adelaide if they are not interstate. I built out of cardboard a NR class diesel loco Number NR 20. DANE FILANDER

Hi,

I just stumbled across your site and wondered if you might be interested in my thesis 'Why all the Secrecy: A history of the Aboriginal activism of Redfern' I completed at the University of Newcastle in 2005.  For my thesis I researched the history of Redfern, the history of the Aboriginal Medical Service, the Aboriginal Housing Company, Aboriginal Legal Service, and interview several prominent Aboriginal activists (including Mick Mundine and Gary Foley).

It might be beneficial to the site?

What are you thoughts? 

Alycia Muir

Reply: Yes, yes, yes, thank you.

DIDJERIGOR (THANK-YOU)

To all involved on this site.  I want to say didjerigor from the bottom of my heart, as The block at Redfern means so much to me.  Being able to live at Murawina Girls Hostel in the early 1980s gave me my start in education to enable me to become an Aboriginal Theatre Artist, specialising in community theatre making, directing and choreography.  It's wonderful to come and give back to the beautiful community that gave me that impotant start in my life's journey.  I LOVE THE BLOCK.

Lily Shearer

Yesterday I spoke to Lily Shearer about a number of things. One was about the preservation of the Block's oral history. She generously referred me to this site. I'd like to write a song about the major Block families. I wrote a song about the Block called Energy and other aspects that I handed to Lily. This is an extension.

Regards, Marunta

For me the block in Redfern will always be a special place. I would even go so far as calling it a sacred site for all blackfullas. For me its significance is that it is the place where my dad was stolen ( Hugo St ) and it is also the place where he found out where his family was again. It has always been a haven for all blacks to share and care together. Me and my family lived on the block in the 80s when there were many families and lots of kids around. It was the safest place for blacks to live and we always remember those times as the happiest. The friendships my kids made are still strong. It didn't matter where you came from. If you were a true blue black fulla you were right. The community spirit was just beautiful. They can't get rid of the block. They will have the biggest fight on their hands. They reckon they've had riots in Redfern, try getting rid of the block and they'll see a real riot. Redfern for life.

Lesley Franks

This looks fantastic: a website devoted to oral history of my neighbourhood, Redfern. I’ve only just started browsing through it. Some great stuff about the squatting origins of the Block.
http://scandalum.wordpress.com/2008/01/12/redfern-oral-history Mike Beggs

I think this site is a great way to highlight the events, achievements and highlights of individuals, groups or organisations which live or operate in and around 'the block'. I have gone to school, lived, work and grew up in and around Redfern. I have been involved with Redfern All Blacks Rugby League Club as a supporter through my Dad's involvement as a past secretary (who is also featured on the mural on Lawson Street). In my short time I have seen the community change and many of the families which once lived on the block have since moved on and I find this really sad to see. As the terraces continue to go along with them goes the community feel that once was and I feel that this can only return once the block has been redeveloped.

Sara Hamilton

Subject: films for your list

hey guys, i had a look at your list of films and you should think about adding "waterloo" and "living on the fringe", you can borrow them both from the waterloo library if you wonna have a look at them first, they are both set in waterloo/redfern and both talk about urban indigenous population (expecially living on the fringe, which is very politically incorrect but still a great portrait of redfern in the 60's)
i recommend them both.
also did you guys ever seen BARBEQUEAREA?
cheers

diego, Squatspace              

Reply: Done,thanks a lot! Yes we've seen Barbekuieria, it's great. One of the ShortBlack films that screened at Carriageworks last Monday used the same idea, reverse inmmigration - sending the Brits back home, commenting on the terrorists, it was very good. Should be shown all over Australia.

I used to go to Redfern Public School (from 1973-1975). I would love to get back in contact with a school friend from those days, LESLEY MORRIS.  

I used to live in the high rise housing commission flats at 57 Morehead Street, Redfern.  Back then we called them the 'Blue Flats' 'yellow flats' and 'red flats', three 16 storey blocks in a row but they were officially known as Lawson, Kendall and I can't remember the third one...(it may have been Wentworth!)

I recall the name of one of the other childhood school friends, Christina Mamazoulous (I think that is how you spell it!) She was from a Greek Australian family who lived in a big terrace house in the same street as Redfern Public School.