Alternative Media Group

Redfern reaches 150

Author:

Angus Thompson

Posted:

Thursday, 20 August 2009

This month, Redfern Town Hall hosted a day of celebrations to mark the suburb’s 150th birthday, but not all of Redfern’s residents were there to celebrate.

“Redfern is important symbolically for Indigenous urban Australia,” announced long-term resident of the suburb and Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore, as she opened proceedings in Redfern Town Hall. “Redfern has many layers, and many stories to tell.” There is no denying that Redfern’s Indigenous community has experienced a turbulent journey throughout the past 150 years.

Heidi Norman, winner of the NSW Indigenous Fellowship in 2005, delivered a heartfelt speech on the impact of industrial change on the inner-city suburb’s local Aboriginal population.  “Redfern used to be one of the most densely-populated suburbs in Sydney, and there was a high level of Aboriginal participation in the phenomenal economic activity of the area,” Ms Norman said.

It is, however, a far cry from the state of the suburb now.  In particular, one cannot help noting the present state of the once-thriving ‘Block’.

There are many reasons for the decline, Ms Norman explained, with the major one being economic. “Economic activity dramatically declined from the early 1980s,” she said.  “Manufacturing became increasingly automated, and the sectors where labour input was required began to shift to less-developing countries in search of cheaper, non-union work forces.”

Saturday’s celebrations offered Redfern’s locals the opportunity to look back on the rich history of their suburb. Inside the Town Hall, afternoon tea was provided for local residents who were invited to drop in and share their memories, stories, photographs and memorabilia.

Guided walking tours were also led by historian Mark Dunn, who pointed out the area’s many historical landmarks, and showed people that Redfern’s past is not just ‘black and white’.

“All you have to do to see the extent of Redfern’s multiculturalism is to look at all the different kinds of churches,” he said. “You don’t build a church if there’s no-one to go to it.”

Redfern may be marking 150 years of history but, given the impact of past events on its Aboriginal population, it’s an occasion that not everyone feels like celebrating.  As Clover Moore said on the venerable suburb’s anniversary on August 8: “One of the great things about history is not only what it tells us about the past, but how it informs our present, how it reminds us that nothing is ever permanent, but is the result of actions and inactions.”  It’s a lesson that those who know Redfern, implicitly understand better than most.

by Drew Sullivan

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