Redfern | Sydney City Guide | Apollo Social
Northerly view from Eveleigh Street of the large Aboriginal flag mural painted on the rear wall of a warehouse building. Image: Patricia Baillie, courtesy City of Sydney Archives

Redfern

Image: Northerly view from Eveleigh Street of the large Aboriginal flag mural painted on the rear wall of a warehouse building. Image: Patricia Baillie, courtesy City of Sydney Archives

Redfern

Neighbourhood in Sydney
Redfern
Neighbourhood in Sydney
The heart of Sydney’s urban Aboriginal community

Redfern is a vibrant inner-city suburb, known for its rich Indigenous heritage, dynamic arts scene, and ongoing urban transformation

This is a neighbourhood where longstanding Indigenous pride meets a young, artsy scene. The community is diverse and inclusive, with students, professionals, and First Nations locals mingling in the street. Walk down Redfern Street and you’ll pass vibrant street art (look out for the “40,000 Years” mural honoring Aboriginal heritage and restored heritage buildings next to edgy galleries and cafes. Redfern’s past and present blend seamlessly – for example, a heritage terrace on The Block is now adorned with the giant “Welcome to Redfern” mural celebrating Aboriginal leaders and community activism.

Redfern’s food and nightlife scene has blossomed alongside its gentrification, and today the streets buzz with activity. The much-loved Bearded Tit can be found in Redfern which can be considered the heart of Sydney’s alternative LGBTQIA+ community.

Aboriginal Resilience and Urban Change

 

For much of the 20th century Redfern was the heart of Sydney’s urban Aboriginal community – by the late 1960s, the Indigenous population here had swelled to around 40,000[12]. In the 1970s Redfern was a cradle of Black activism: the Black Power movement in this area led to the creation of Aboriginal-run health clinics, legal services and housing co-ops[13]. The suburb also contributed activists to the famous Aboriginal Tent Embassy in 1972[13]. Redfern Park was the site of Prime Minister Paul Keating’s groundbreaking 1992 speech acknowledging Indigenous injustices, cementing the area’s reputation as sacred ground for First Nations Australians.

Like many inner-city areas, Redfern has experienced hard times – poverty and social struggles that culminated in events like the 2004 Redfern riots. In recent years, however, it has been rapidly gentrifying. Yet despite these changes, Redfern hasn’t lost its soul. The suburb remains a hub for Aboriginal culture and enterprise, and community pride is strong. You’ll still see the red, black and yellow of the Aboriginal flag painted on murals and flown proudly. 

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