The story of this place
In 1973, the Aboriginal Housing Company acquired houses on Louis Street in Redfern, creating 'The Block'—Australia's first urban Aboriginal land rights victory. For decades, The Block was a spiritual home for Indigenous Australians who had migrated to Sydney from rural areas, a place where Aboriginal culture thrived in the city. It was also the site of protests, police raids, and the 2004 Redfern Riots after teenager TJ Hickey died while being pursued by police. Many original houses have been demolished for redevelopment, but The Block remains a symbol of Aboriginal resistance and community in urban Australia.