The Block (Sydney)

The Block is a colloquial but universally applied name given to a block of housing in Sydney, Australia, purchased over a period of 30 years by the Aboriginal Housing Company (AHC) for use as a project in Aboriginal-managed housing. The Block is probably the most famous feature of the suburb of Redfern, although in point of fact it is located on the western border of that suburb, on the edge of Darlington. The focus of life in the Block has always been Eveleigh Street, which is its eastern border, with railway lines on the other side of that street.

The Block, historically has been the subject of a large protests, starting in the early 1970s, when landlords in the area conducted a campaign of evicting all Aboriginal residents. A group of campaigners, led by future judge Bob Bellear, successfully lobbied the Whitlam government to transfer ownership of the block to the AHC in 1972. The area was significant as an affordable source of low-cost housing for disadvantaged Aboriginal people.

This area and surrounds has a high street crime rate and is "no go" area for Sydney Taxi Drivers. This is exacerbating the racism experienced by the diverse members of the community, who are being refused taxi service.

As a pioneering and still unique project in Aboriginal-run housing near the centre of Australia's largest city, it excites enormous emotions, and moreover is viewed by the largely rural indigenous population of New South Wales as a pied a terre and spiritual home in Australia's largest city.The area around The Block is now reportedly the subject of plans for massive redevelopment by private developers at the instigation of the New South Wales state government - see Redfern-Eveleigh-Darlington.

On 14 February 2004, The Block was the scene of a riot following the death of an Australian Aboriginal boy, impaled on a fence while fleeing from police. Many of the local Aboriginal population believed his death had been instigated by the police, while the police denied any involvement whatsoever.

The AHC's own plans for redevelopment of the Block itself, The Pemulwuy Project, are being met with opposition by the State Government. [ AHC [http://www.ahc.org.au/redevelop/redevelop.html/ Redevelopment news] ]

Timeline

1965 Charles Perkins and Reverend Ted Noffs of the Wayside Chapel organised a Freedom Ride with 30 white Sydney University students from the group Student Action for Aborigines (SAFA)'. This inspired Koori political activists, awakened positive media interest and commenced an era of protests.

References

External links

* Foley, Gary "Black power in Redfern 1968–1972" in http://www.kooriweb.org/foley/essays/essay_1.html

* Four Corners transcript 12/05/97 [http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/s72768.htm/ The Block] Begins with negative sensationalism, and ends with a blanket statement, otherwise a helpful exploration of the 90s that provides many insights.