Redfern Aboriginal Children's Services facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Redfern Aboriginal Children's Services |
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Redfern Aboriginal Children's Services, 18 George Street, Redfern, NSW
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| Location | 18 George Street, Redfern, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1874–1875 |
| Architectural style(s) | Victorian Filigree |
| Owner | Aboriginal Children's Service Ltd |
| Official name: Redfern Aboriginal Children's Services and Archives; ACS; Denholme | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 13 July 2015 |
| Reference no. | 1951 |
| Type | Historic site |
| Category | Aboriginal |
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The Redfern Aboriginal Children's Services (ACS) is a special organisation that helps Indigenous Australian children and families in Sydney, Australia. It is also known as the Redfern Aboriginal Children's Services and Archives.
The building where ACS is located is very old and important. It's called Denholme and was built between 1874 and 1875. You can find it at 18 George Street in Redfern, a suburb in Sydney. This building was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2015 because of its historical importance.
Contents
A Look Back: The History of Redfern
Redfern's Beginnings and Aboriginal Connections
Long ago, the area we now call Redfern was full of sand hills and swamps. These natural areas provided lots of food for the Gadigal people, who are part of the Eora Nation. They lived here before European settlers arrived. Even though colonisation brought many challenges, Gadigal culture continued to thrive.
As the town of Sydney grew, many Aboriginal people from all over New South Wales came to live and work in the city. Redfern became a key place where Aboriginal families found a safe space and connection. This strong community spirit continues in Redfern today.
The name Redfern comes from an early land grant given to William Redfern in 1817. Before that, it was known by other names like Robert's Farm. By the late 1850s, Redfern was a busy suburb with about 6,500 people. It became its own municipality in 1859.
The Historic House at 18 George Street
The building at 18 George Street, known as Denholme, first appeared in records around 1871 as empty land. The house itself was built between 1873 and 1875. Its first known resident was John Williamson, a solicitor, who lived there until 1889.
Later, in 1890, Frederick Chapman, a court clerk (called a prothonotary), lived in the house. The building has seen many changes over the years, but it has remained an important part of Redfern's history.
Aboriginal Activism and Community Services
The Rise of Aboriginal Activism in Redfern
The 20th century saw a big increase in political action among Aboriginal people. They worked hard to change laws and improve their lives. Redfern became a central hub for this activism, especially for civil rights and land rights.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Aboriginal people in Redfern faced unfair treatment. For example, there was an unofficial curfew where Aboriginal people found on the street after 10 pm could be arrested.
To fight this, a group of activists, including Paul Coe, Isabel Coe, and Gary Foley, started the Aboriginal Legal Service in 1970. This service helped Aboriginal people understand their rights and get legal help. It was so successful that similar services were created across Australia.
Groundbreaking Services for the Community
In 1971, another vital service, the Aboriginal Medical Service, was set up in Redfern. It offered free health care to Aboriginal people, including advice on nutrition. One of its founders was Shirley Smith, a respected community leader.
Many other important Aboriginal organisations also started in Redfern around this time. These included the Aboriginal Housing Company, which helped Aboriginal families get homes, and Murawina, which began as a breakfast program and became a child care centre.
The 1970s were a crucial time in Redfern. Aboriginal people actively worked to overcome poverty, housing problems, and poor health care. Providing services for Aboriginal children was a key part of this movement. It was also a response to the ongoing removal of Aboriginal children from their families.
The Aboriginal Children's Service is Born
For many years, Aboriginal children were often taken from their families and placed with non-Indigenous families or in institutions. This was part of a policy called assimilation, which officially ended in 1969. However, problems continued.
Experts realised that Aboriginal children needed to be fostered within Aboriginal families. This was because Aboriginal culture has strong ideas about extended families and kinship (family relationships).
The Redfern Aboriginal Children's Services (ACS) was started in 1975 to address these issues. It focused on providing foster care and family support services. Important women like Mum Shirl, Isabel Coe, and Jenny Munro were key to its success.
ACS was one of the first organisations to follow what became known as the Aboriginal Child Placement Principle. This principle says that Aboriginal children should be placed with Aboriginal families first, keeping their cultural connections strong.
ACS played a huge role in changing child welfare policies in New South Wales. Their work led to the "kinship care" policy, which prioritises placing children with family members. If no family is available, Aboriginal children are placed with other Aboriginal families in their community.
Key People Behind the Service
Many incredible Aboriginal women were vital to the success of the Redfern Aboriginal Children's Services.
- Colleen Shirley Perry was a Wiradjuri woman known for helping prisoners. She raised 60 foster children and helped start ACS.
- Isabel Coe was also a Wiradjuri woman. She was a key activist who helped set up the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra. She played a big part in creating many important organisations in Redfern, including ACS.
- Jenny Munro worked at ACS as an administrator and was a strong advocate for policy changes regarding Aboriginal children.
- Vilma Ryan worked at ACS, helping hundreds of Aboriginal children in the court system. She worked to place them with Aboriginal carers.
- Sylvia Scott helped found Murawina pre-school for Aboriginal children, one of the first Aboriginal-run organisations in Sydney.
- Ann Weldon was a founding member of the NSW Aboriginal Children's Service. She held many leadership roles, including being the first female CEO of the Aboriginal Legal Service.
Where the Service Has Been
Before moving to 18 George Street, the service was located in other places, including 31-33 Regent Street in Redfern in 1980.
Today, Redfern has changed a lot. Many Aboriginal people have moved to other areas like Waterloo. Because of this, many Aboriginal services have also moved. The Redfern Aboriginal Children's Services at 18 George Street is now a rare example of the community-based services that once thrived in Redfern.
What the Building Looks Like
The building at 18 George Street is a three-storey house with an attic. It was built in 1874 in the Victorian Filigree style. This means it has decorative wrought iron lace on its verandah and columns.
Inside, the ground floor has large rooms, and the upstairs has big bedrooms. The front entrance hall has a special mural that shows the building's use as the Aboriginal Children's Services. This mural helps tell the story of the building's purpose. The main rooms on the ground and first floors still have their original ornate ceilings, windows, and fireplaces.
Why This Place is Important
A Shift in Child Welfare Policy
The Redfern Aboriginal Children's Services is very important because it helped change how the government cared for Aboriginal children. It pushed for the "kinship care" policy, which prioritises placing children with family members. This was a big step towards ensuring Aboriginal children stayed connected to their culture and community.
ACS was a leader in fighting against the policy of removing Aboriginal children from their families. It successfully showed that considering kinship ties is crucial for child placements.
A Hub of Self-Determination
Along with other key organisations like the Aboriginal Legal Service and the Aboriginal Medical Service, ACS was central to the "revolution in self-determination" that happened in Redfern in the 1970s. This was a time when Aboriginal people took control of their own affairs and created services to meet their community's needs.
The Redfern Aboriginal Children's Services at 18 George Street is now a rare example of these pioneering Aboriginal service providers. Many have moved as Redfern has changed.
Connecting with History and Community
The service has strong social importance for the Aboriginal community today. It is seen as a safe place for Aboriginal children who were placed in care. Many people who passed through ACS would have strong memories of the service.
The building also holds important historical archives. These records contain information about the organisation and the children who were fostered through the service. These archives are very valuable for understanding the history of ACS and helping adults connect with their families.
The Redfern Aboriginal Children's Services continues to play a charitable role in the community, offering services like food delivery and playgroups for mothers. For those who have worked there, the place also holds spiritual significance, as it is seen as being cared for by the spirits of ancestors and past board members.
See also
- Aboriginal Medical Service
- Australian residential architectural styles
