The City of Sydney is looking for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists to transform a narrow terrace in Redfern into a living museum.
The remaining end terrace on Caroline Street will display local memories, knowledge and histories shared by Aboriginal residents of The Block, from snippets of everyday life to nationally significant events.
Currently the building is adorned with the iconic Welcome to Redfern mural, completed by Reko Rennie and young local Aboriginal artists in 2013. The City of Sydney is now seeking ideas for how the inside of the building could be creatively used to showcase and collect contemporary and archival materials and stories.
“Located in the heart of Redfern, this is a significant project for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,” said curator Emily McDaniel. “First Nations artists, architects, filmmakers and sound designers are invited to redefine the Redfern Terrace as a place for storytelling and to reimagine the building.”
“It could be a museum, an artist studio or artwork, and somewhere community can share knowledge and creativity,” said McDaniel.
Built in the 1880s, the terrace was once a shop and residence, and then used by the neighbouring sawmill as a dressing room and storage space before standing vacant.
There has long been a significant urban Aboriginal community in Redfern. As extended families moved to the area from the 1930s Great Depression onwards to live and work, Caroline Street and its surrounds, known as The Block, became an important hub for Sydney’s Aboriginal communities.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the living museum would deliver on a promise made in the City of Sydney’s Eora Journey – a program of work promoting cultural, economic and social sustainability for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in our local area, including a series of major public artworks.
“Converting this old terrace in the heart of an area synonymous with First Nations community, culture and activism reflects our commitment to ensuring Redfern remains a proudly Aboriginal place,” said Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore AO.
“This project is inspired by the pride, courage and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and we hope it will become a landmark where important contemporary and historic Aboriginal stories are shared in a rapidly changing urban environment.
“Earlier this year we opened a new knowledge and cultural centre at 119 Redfern Street, and we unveiled designs for the first artwork as part of Yananurala, a 9km harbour foreshore walk of installations and artworks celebrating Aboriginal heritage.”
“The City of Sydney is committed to redressing the imbalance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander recognition and perspectives in the public domain by investing in these artworks and places.”
“By acknowledging our shared past, we are laying the groundwork for a future which embraces all Australians, a future based on mutual respect and shared responsibility for this land,” said the Lord Mayor.
The Lord Mayor said the terrace transformation would complement plans to upgrade three neighbourhood parks in the area, including the reserve where the building is located. “As our city grows and more areas are developed, creating inviting places where the local community can come together and socialise is even more important,” said the Lord Mayor.
“The area is experiencing major changes with increased development around Redfern station and the new Waterloo metro station. Informed by extensive community consultation, the project scope will see greener, cooler parks with native trees and plants making for safer and more welcoming spaces.”
An artists’ briefing and site visit will be held at 36 Caroline Street, Redfern on Tuesday 22 October 2024 (12.30pm-1.30pm).
For more information about the Redfern Terrace project, visit: www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au for details. Ideas can be submitted up to 11.00am – Tuesday 19 November 2024.
Image: Redfern Terrace – photo by Phoebe Pratt | City of Sydney