A plan to convert the Redfern Post Office into a local Aboriginal knowledge and culture hub has been met with differing opinions from indigenous leaders.
The City of Sydney has concluded its round of consultations with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to determine the best use for the Redfern Post Office.
Council envisions the heritage-listed building as a cultural hub that will be a major component of the Eora Journey – City of Sydney’s series of long-term projects aimed to “celebrate the living cultures of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.”
The building, purchased by Council in 2018, was chosen with the assistance of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advisory panel who inspected the property and provided advice on its potential uses to the benefit of the community.
Apparently, the site is ideal for the planned use as it is situated in the heart of Redfern which was at the centre of Indigenous activism for rights and self-determination in the 1970s.
The Metropolitan Aboriginal Land Council, however, has chosen not to participate in any of the planned cultural hub’s future activities, specifically because of its history of racial segregation in the early 1900s. The Land Council Chief Executive Officer Nathan Moran also said that they were not consulted regarding the proposal.
Councillor Yvonne Weldon, who was recently named 2022 NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year, has also expressed the same sentiment and called on the Council to find a more appropriate site for the proposal.
Meanwhile, Archibald Prize winner, Blak Douglas, has a different take on the matter and chooses to look beyond the site’s past. The indigenous artist said he’d likely agree to display his work in it if ever he receives an invitation.
Built in 1992, the Redfern Post Office is situated at 113 Redfern Street. Designed by the Colonial Architect’s Office under James Barnet, one corner of the two-storey building features a four-and-a-half-storey clock tower.
The building was acquired by the City of Sydney in November 2018 for $5.3 million. A year later, tenants vacated the building and minor works to improve accessibility at the site commenced.
Council said that they have received a number of suggestions from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members and will continue to work with them to ensure that they get the best possible opportunities for use of the site.