Suellen Symons

Redfern Then and Now

‘Strange Paradise’ (Redfern Then and Now)
Suellen Symons

I have been galvanised by what I am witnessing in the neighbourhood: life as we know it will soon drastically change, as Redfern, Waterloo and Alexandria lose the human scale and gets swallowed up into the city.

The title ‘Strange Paradise’ comes from the T-shirt an Indigenous woman was wearing in one of my photographs.

Although not a traditional paradise, it is in the sense that it’s a strong community with a strong sense of history with historical architecture. I am interested in documenting a time of unprecedented change, the precursor in the 1970s when the art deco Lawson Picture Theatre on Lawson Square, (built 1942) which backed onto Regent Street, was demolished to build the twin TNT office towers. 

 Sometime in 2017 suddenly two very high towers sprang up at the top of Regent Street and Gibbons Street without consultation with the community. A wind tunnel almost always in shadow was formed for the peoples’ thoroughfare. 

 It feels like the change is coming without any consideration for the village landscape of low rise that most of Redfern still has, or for the inhabitants’ inclusion in decision-making to change the environment and vibe of Redfern/Waterloo/Alexandria (all linked on Botany Road / Regent Street which is the same street and block but has three suburbs and two street names). 

 We have been told in the media that there will be a lot more development down Botany Road Waterloo to Green Square. We will be living in a Hong Kong-style development here. Before all the local business people, and people on the street, and others who hang in the community are lost and scattered I want to document how it is now. I would like to photograph and interview every businessperson in the street of Regent St Redfern / Botany Road Waterloo/Alexandria. I am documenting everyone from the homeless, to the major players in the strip from Lawson Square down to Raglan Street on both sides of the street. I’m also photographing the buildings, the skyline and the shops. On reflecting on how crime has gone down in the area over time I realised I must photograph and interview the Commander of the Redfern Police who has been responsible for engaging with the local Aboriginal community by asking the Elders what they wanted him to do. 

 They wanted their young men and women to have self-respect and self-esteem so he began the early morning boxing program with the Indigenous Centre for Excellence “Clean Slate Without Prejudice” and the Aboriginal community some ten years ago. This was Luke Freudenstein until the end of 2018 and now the new Commander is Andrew Holland. Through the building projects, which are coming down the street and progress into the digital age, some businesses have long since closed down, such as the South Sydney DVD shop. It’s façade as a building is one of my favourite examples of architecture on the street. However it and the Chicken shop next door are now vacant awaiting the destruction of their buildings as progress marches down the hill.

 When my doctor, Dr. Janet Lam, moved out of her premises, with her business the Redfern Medical Centre closing down, I was so shocked as I hadn’t realised that so many businesses, shops, offices and people would be having to vacate for the building of high rise. Janet decided to retire after 30 years and moved away.

Harry the Barber’s premises was also closed down for the high rise and he had been there for 42 years. He attempted to work down the road next to the newsagent but after being solo for 42 years it was too hard to share so he is now retired. The Chinese takeaway was the first to go, and then the fantastic second hand furniture shop at 88 Regent St, Redfern Retro Furniture.

 I want to chronicle my times in Strange Paradise Redfern Then and Now including historic maps of the streets Regent Street Redfern and Botany Road Waterloo/Alexandria and hold an exhibition and also concentrate on creating a self

published book Strange Paradise Redfern Then and Now with the photographs of the local residents and the buildings before they are pulled down and Redfern/Waterloo/Alexandria along Regent Street / Botany Road is no longer as we know it.

Many of the people and businesses in the strip Regent Street Redfern & Botany Road Waterloo/Alexandria (the one street) are staying and for those people this historic record of our times will be pertinent.

Some local people are being moved out for the modernisation to occur, then relocated, somewhere else or back in the neighbourhood.

The Australian Technology Park acquired by The Commonwealth Bank is being modernised by Mirvac who have engaged the community in discussions over the last year or two but never the less the low rise and village feel is now threatened by the march of progress: The gentrification of the area at the expense of historic and low rise, the high rise will one day be the most prevalent form of building in the district right down to Green Square. Some people in the area are embracing the change they see modernisation as progress. For myself I see a time of great change where the old must be documented before it is replaced with the new.