Rebuilding The Block: Tent Embassy comes to Redfern

Isabell Coe, organiser of the Tent Embassy, said, “We’ve set up here on the Block to support the Aboriginal community. We’re here to remind Frank Sartor that The Block was created to provide proper homes for Aboriginal people.

“This is something that the community requested and we will be here until the problem is sorted out. The Block is Aboriginal land and we’re claiming it back.”

The Aboriginal Housing Company, which owns properties on The Block, alleges that the Redfern Waterloo Authority re-zoned land on The Block to prevent the development of the Pemulwuy Project. The AHC, through the Pemulwuy Project, plans to build 62 new residencies on The Block and is not asking for funding from the NSW Government.

Peter Valilis of the AHC said, “The Pemulwuy Project is an amazing opportunity to demonstrate that Aboriginal people can do it on their own without government money. However, the NSW Government has gone to the extreme of changing zoning requirements on The Block, with the aim of preventing Aboriginal people from determining their own future in Redfern.

“The Tent Embassy is there to support the community against Frank Sartor. We thank Isabell Coe and the Tent Embassy for their support,” Valilis said.

Residents from The Block that the South Sydney Herald spoke to were supportive of the Tent Embassy. Waterloo resident Aunty Bowie was at the Tent Embassy also. She says Aboriginal people looked after land for 40,000 years and are able to manage the land they own in Redfern.

Organisers of the Tent Embassy have lit a ceremonial fire to signify the cultural importance of The Block to Aboriginal people. Coe has asked for supporters of Tent Embassy to donate native wood for the fire.

[South Sydney Herald July 2006]