Redfern

In the 1970s, Redfern, an inner-city suburb of metropolitan Sydney, became the epicentre for Aboriginal intellectuals and ambitious young radicals. Having fled poverty and segregation in rural Australia in the 1950s and 60s, they set about fulfilling their vision – a new way of living, where Aboriginal people could control their own lives – politically, economically and culturally.

Redfern: Aboriginal activism in the 1970s is the previously untold story of how they set about fulfilling their dreams. In a fast-paced burst of creativity and hard work, in just three years an Aboriginal health service, a housing cooperative, a legal service, a child care centre and a black theatre in Redfern were established. They had some support, and the promise of self-determination under the newly elected Whitlam’s Labor government, but there was also abuse and discrimination. This is the story of how, with hard work, humour and vision, they prevailed to build organisations that have served as models for similar organisations all over Australia.

“A timely and overdue study of one of the most exciting time periods in Aboriginal political history.”
-Professor John Maynard

Production Details

• Paperback
• 230mm x 153mm
• 272pp
  
• Released September 2020 
• ISBN 9781925302295

Contents

Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
Timelines
Chapter 1: Introduction- Why Redfern Matters
Chapter 2: Surviving and Reviving in the Inner City
Chapter 3: Fighting for Aboriginal Legal Rights
Chapter 4: Demand for Culturally Appropriate Health Care
Chapter 5: The Black Theatre- The Cultural Spearhead of Activism
Chapter 6: Murawina- For the Unity of Aboriginal Women
Chapter 7: Claim to Urban Land- Aboriginal Housing Company
Conclusion
Afterword
Notes
Bibliography
Index

About The Author

Johanna is a historian whose research fields are Australian Indigenous politics and advocacy for social change, and their engagement with settler colonial society and governments. She has also published on the history of Aboriginal material culture. Johanna grew up in Finland, and lives in Sydney, where she lectures in Indigenous Studies at UNSW Sydney.

About The Cover

Cover photograph of Zac Martin in a publicity shot for Basically Black television
program, ABC, 1972; with the permission of John Martin and family.