The Urban Precinct
Topic: Pre- and Post-colonial History of Redfern Area
Pre-colonial
The original landscape around the Redfern area belonged to the Cadigal clan(also known as Kadigal or Gadigal); their territory stretched along south side of Port Jackson that extend from South Head to Petersham. The western boundary was undetermined as it was co-joined with other clans. The City of Sydney, including Redfern now stands on the central of Cadigal’s territory; an area known as Cadi. The land in this area was very productive; it had a freshwater stream that run through the land and down to a valley. Around the swamp area there were open grassy and woodlands that held large number of kangaroos, emus and possums.
The Cadigal clan spoke coastal language which is known as the Eora language; they were a community of the Eora tribe hence they are often referred as the Eora people. Based on carbon dating, it is believed that these people have lived on this land over 40,000 years before the invasion of the European. It is estimated that there was about 60 members who lived in the Cadigal community.
The people had a typical way of living; they did not believe that they owned the land rather they belonged to the land; so they had the responsibility towards the lands that brought them up. They built their shelters as small huts that made out of branches and covered with sheets of bark. Another word, they were harmless to the environment.
Post-colonial
When first arrived in 1788, the English led by Governor ArthurPhillip looking for a pleasant space of land where they can set up their base. It was not suitable at Botany Bay (known as Kamay) because it was a port; hence they moved further in land and set up their base on the Cadigal’s land. As a result, the Cadigal community was one of the first in contact with the English and there fore they were directly affected by the devastation of the invasion.
Governor Phillip ordered hundreds of his soldiers and convicts to cut down trees and bushes (land clearing) around the area so they could erect tents and huts. This was totally opposed to how the Cadigal people inhabited the land. These actions were the first signs that the Cadigal clan understood their land was to be first taken. Soon the English went beyond their camp site and overtook the adjacent areas killing many innocent Aborigines; and this was just the beginning of the process of land dispossession.
In response, the Aboriginal people started to kill the English soldiers and convicts that wandered off by themselves. During the first few years of settlement, many Aborigines were killed due to their resistance against the violence of land dispossession. As the warfare between the “black and white people” continued that led to many dead; of those who survived was forced to move to their neighbouring communities leaving behind their homeland.
Smallpox Epidemic
Due to the fact that the Cadigal community was first in contact with the English, the community was struck with smallpox disease that infected half the population and there was no such thing as immunity. Early second year, three of the Cadigal’s members were dead caused by smallpox. It is estimated that from 1788-1790, up to 90% of the Aboriginal population in Sydneywere killed by the disease; this included the 62 members of the Cadigal clan. This drastic event not only led to hugely dropped in the total Aboriginal population, but it also caused both social and economic disruption. The death climbed up to the thousands, so the Aborigine’s traditional burial custom were impossible. “Bodies were found floating in the harbour and lying in rock shelters” (Other Boundaries: Inner-City Aboriginal Stories) the image of Sydney cove as consequences of the disease.
Clan elders did not know how the epidemic started while the English was to blame everyone except themselves. The English denied that there were no cases of smallpox on the first fleet; however it was clearly that the epidemic broke out soon after the arrival of the first fleet. The warfare got worsens after the epidemic as the Aboriginal people started to pick up on the convicts. They tried to set fire to buildings; they stole foods or any resources that they could possibly get from the English.
English Civilised
In the early years of settlement, the English lived around the Sydney area and consumed most of the food resources which in turn created shortage in foods that caused many Aborigines died of hunger. The convicts depleted the fish on bay; reduced kangaroo population and polluted water all around the Sydney regions.
In 1820’s, the English attempted to civilise Sydney Aborigines by providing education to boys and girls in the central areas; however their effort went on for years and proved to achieve very little for the people. Late 1800’s, most of Aboriginal people have moved out of Sydney cove to live in the Western suburbs. For those that stayed was unable to continue their hunter and gatherer lifestyle; hence they became integrated into the European culture (which was totally different to their way of living)
Great Depression
In 1900, La Perouse was declared as reserved site for the Aboriginal community, it was the closest site to the Sydney area. During 1920’s, many Aboriginal people lived around New South Wales moved to the Redfern area for the possibility of getting regular work at the railway. These Aborigines worked as fettlers for very cheap pay, about half of what the white people got. As in 1930’s, there were stronghold of Aboriginal communities in La Perouse and Redfern but work became scarce that led to increase in homeless population in the areas. In 1940, more Aborigines established themselves in Redfern where a number of civil right protests and rallies were based. As the problem worsened in late 1960’s with approximately 12,000 Aborigines accommodated themselves in Redfern; of those many were employed in factories and many turned into crime and drinking.
References
•K.Butler, K.Cameron and B.Percival, 1995, The Myth of Terra Nullius, Board of Studies NSW
•D. Plater, 1993, Other Boundaries: Inner-City Aboriginal Stories, UTS NSW
•93.7 FMKoori Radio:
•CadigalWangal, 2004,
•Aboriginal Housing Company, 2000-2005,
By: / Dung Hoang LE / 305142488YongYing (Alan) WU / 305137476
Fu (Kevin) LIN / 305113372
Second Year