Australian Urban Squatters of The 1970s: Establishing and Living a Radical Lifestyle in Inner-City Sydney

Johanna Jane Trainor BA (SCA); GradDipEd (UTS); MA (UNSW); MVisArts (Sydney)

A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History August 2020

This thesis was supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship

STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY I hereby certify that the work embodied in the thesis is my own work, conducted under normal supervision. The thesis contains no material which has been accepted, or is being examined, for the award of any other degree or diploma in any university or other tertiary institution and, to the best of my knowledge and belief, contains no material previously published or written by another person, except where due reference has been made. I give consent to the final version of my thesis being made available worldwide when deposited in the University’s Digital Repository, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968 and any approved embargo.

Johanna Trainor TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT ..…………….………………………………………………………...... …i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ………………………………………………………………..…iii ABBREVIATIONS………………………………………………………… …………………iv LIST OF FIGURES AND MAPS……………………………………………..……………..v

Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION …………………………………………………………………………..…1

Chapter 2 URBAN IN INNER-CITY SYDNEY ……………………………………….23

Chapter 3 THE GLEBE PROJECT AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S URBAN RENEWAL AGENDA …………………………………………………………..………………………...57

Chapter 4 AND RELATIONS IN GLEBE AND LEICHHARDT …………....93

Chapter 5 LIVING RENT FREE: SQUATTING ON THE GLEBE ESTATE …………..………….146

Chapter 6 MAKING TROUBLE AND INFLUENCING PEOPLE ……………………..………….183

Chapter 7 WHERE TO FROM HERE? ………………………………………………….…………. 217

CONCLUSION ………………………………………………………………….…………252

APPENDICES …………………………………………………………………….……….264 BIBLIOGRAPHY ………………………………………………………………….……….270 i

ABSTRACT Insensitive urban renewal projects and invasive freeway constructions in the inner-city of Sydney provoked widespread resistance throughout the 1970s. This thesis traces the interconnections between the highly contentious squatting campaigns that took place in 1973 in Victoria Street, Kings Cross, and the concurrent Glebe anti-expressway movement which opposed the decimation of the historic suburb by the New South Wales state government’s planned radial expressway system. Both of the mobilisations claimed a “right to the city” and demanded the decentralisation of political control over the urban environment, the retention of low- income housing and community participation in the decision-making processes. The Victoria Street occupation demonstrated the power of people over their living conditions and uniquely combined self-help with protest while simultaneously expressing an alternative vision for social organisation in an urban environment. At the same time, the Glebe anti-expressway movement successfully halted the state government’s radial expressway scheme, saving not only housing in the historic suburb of Glebe from demolition but also all of the remaining houses purchased by the Department of Main Roads in the eastern suburbs. These actions together paved the way for the Glebe Estate to become a microcosm of alternative living and politics.

This thesis argues that the alternative political and social spaces created by the Victoria Street squatters ignited city-wide squatting campaigns. Drawing on oral history interviews with the participants and personal archival materials, and informed by theories of urban social movements, this research also explores the collective social enterprises and women’s services initiated by the and ex- Victoria Street squatters in vacant houses on the Glebe Estate. The study identifies other protest actors who realised the potential of collective empowerment through autonomous political action and who established housing co-operatives and creative social enterprises in vacant Department of Main Roads properties on the other side of the city in Darlinghurst and council properties in Pyrmont. In contextualising and identifying the interconnectivity of these protest actions, this research presents a case study of a mid-20th century international phenomenon: the ways in which contested urban environments could generate radical experiments in alternative living arrangements, social services and political action which challenged not only ii conventional government decision-making but also the authority of the state in the realm of daily life. iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The research for this thesis was, in large part, based on oral history interviews, and I wish to convey my gratitude to all of the participants who gave generously of their time and agreed to recorded interviews to share their memories. Special thanks go to my supervisors, Associate Professor Nancy Cushing and Professor Roger Markwick, for their encouragement, good humour and dedication in providing constructive criticism throughout the project. I am incredibly grateful for their patience and tolerance towards my lack of expertise in history and unswerving commitment to keeping me on track. In other ways, I have been extremely lucky to be surrounded by a wonderful group of colleagues and wish to thank them for their friendship throughout the many long years of my candidature. The process of researching and writing this thesis was made all the more enjoyable by the support and inclusivity of the history discipline within the School of Humanities and Social Science, University of Newcastle. Appreciation and profound gratitude is also extended to my two examiners, Professor Michelle Arrow of Macquarie University and Professor Sean Scalmer of the University of Melbourne, for their meticulous reports and encouragement of my scholarship. Finally, I would like to thank my late partner Peter McGregor for his support, advice and blind belief in my abilities throughout our life together. iv

ABBREVIATIONS 130 130 Glebe Point Road AS IF Anarcho-Surrealist Insurrectionary Feminists ASIO Australian Security Intelligence Organisation AUREC Anti-Urban Radial Expressway Campaign AYS Aquarius Youth Service BLF Builders Labourers Federation BRC Bishopthorpe Residents Committee CBC Campaign for a Better Council CBD Central Business District CCC Cumberland County Council CYSS Community Youth Support Scheme DHC Department of Housing and Construction DMR NSW Department of Main Roads DURD Department of Urban and Regional Development FAA Federation of Australian Anarchists FEDFA Federated Engine Drivers & Fireman's Association of Australasia Union GAB Glebe Administration Board GAEAG Glebe Anti-Expressway Action Group GNCA Greyhound National Coursing Association GPO Glebe Project Office LMC Leichhardt Municipal Council LWCHC Leichhardt Women’s Community Health Centre NHHSC National Hospitals and Health Services Commission NT National Trust Australia SAG Sydney Anarchist Group SCC Sydney County Council SLC Save Lyndhurst Committee SMG Brisbane Self-Management Group SRCC Sydney Rape Crisis Centre VRAG Victoria Street Resident Action Group WAAC Women's Abortion Action Campaign WEL Women’s Electoral Lobby WUNC Worthiness, Unity, Numbers and Commitment v

LIST OF FIGURES AND MAPS

Figure 1 ……………………………………………………………………..…………….132 1.1 A County of Cumberland Scheme Poster visualising the city of Sydney’s future town plan, 1945. Source: “County of Cumberland Scheme” (City of Sydney Archives, 1159 - 0174).

1.2 A NSW Department of Main Roads plan showing the proposed freeway routes for the County of Cumberland, 1972.

1.3 An Illustration of the planned expressway routes through Glebe, 1969. Source: Main Roads: Journal of the Department of Main Roads, New South Wales, June 1969 34, 4: 132.

Figure 2…………………...………………………………………………………………133 2.1 The graffitied wall of the Darghan Street entrance to Lyndhurst, Glebe circa 1974.

2.2 The Glebe anti-expressway demonstration led by the Leichhardt Lord Mayor, Nick Origlass with councillor Eric Sandblom on his left, 12 February 1972.

Figure 3 ...……………………………………………………………………….………...134 3.1 A Leaflet produced and distributed by the Concerned Residents of Sydney, “The Fig St. Fiasco: The Bloody Mile! 1,” September 1974.

3.2 The Glebe Squatter, Dalmeny Michie, exiting the barricaded terrace via the roof during the anti-expressway demonstration in Fig Street Ultimo, September 1974.

Figure 4 ……………………………………………………………………...……...... 135 4.1 An auction fundraiser for Elsie Women’s Refuge located in the back yard of the refuge at 73 - 75 Westmoreland Street Glebe, circa 1974.

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4.2 An auction fundraiser for Elsie Women’s Refuge, circa 1974, continued.

Figure 5 ……………………………………..…………………………………………….136 5.1 The notice circulated to Glebe Estate tenants, by the Elsie Women’s Refuge collective, informing them of the establishment of the refuge, March 1974.

5.2 An advertisement for the squatted childcare co-op centre on the Glebe Estate, at 15 Mt. Vernon Street Glebe, 1975.

5.3 The Glebe Squatter, Johanna Trainor, in her room at 18 Westmoreland Street Glebe, circa 1975.

Figure 6 ……………………………………………………………………………………137 6.1 Positioning of Patrick O’Keefe’s cement boat for transportation at the Black Wattle Bay boat yard, Bridge Road Glebe, 1977. Far right: Eric Wright.

6.2 Left to right: Johanna Trainor and Rosie Keogh stablising their boat’s steel frame for transportation at the Black Wattle Bay boat yard, Bridge Road Glebe, 1977.

Figure 7 ……...……………………………………………………………………………138 7.1 Glebe squatters and boat builders at 18 Westmoreland Street Glebe, circa 1976. Left to right: Patrick O’Keefe and Keith Mullins.

7.2 Val Hodgson at the Black Wattle Bay boat yard, Bridge Road Glebe,1977.

7.3 Negotiations between squatter boat builders and receivers at the Black Wattle Bay boat yard, Bridge Road Glebe, 1977. Left to right from the open car door: Keith Mullins, Rosie Keogh, Patrick O’Keefe (in cap) and Val Hodgson.

Figure 8 ……………………………………………………………………………………139 8.1 Peter McGregor and Robert Steven at 130 Glebe Point Road, Glebe 1975.

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Figure 9 ……………………………………………………………………………………140 9.1 Graffitied façade of the anarchist centre at 130 Glebe Point Road Glebe, 1975. Left to right: Robert Steven and Peter McGregor.

Figure 10 ……………..…………………………………………………………………...141 10.1 UK leaflet “Win a Policeman Competition” produced by Spontaneous Combustion, 197 Kings Cross Road London, circa 1975.

10.2 “Win a Cop Competition” a plagiarised version of the UK leaflet, produced by the Perth Situationists, circa 1976.

10.3 Glebe Squatters walking down St. John’s Road Glebe, circa 1976. Left to right: Devi Mallal, Silda Trainor and friend Don Zyke.

Figure 11 ………………………………………………………………………………….142 11.1 A birthday party celebration with anarchists and feminists in the kitchen at 130 Glebe Point Road Glebe, circa 1976. Left to right: Kerry Cable, Graeme Minchin, Ken Hauptmann, John Englart, unknown, Susan Ardill.

11.2 A birthday party continued. Left to right: Unknown, Ken Hauptmann, John Englart, Jim Couch and Margaret Burns.

11.3 A birthday party continued. Left to right: Kerry Cable, Ken Hauptmann, John Englart, Jim Couch, Margaret Burns, Donna Welfare, Susan Ardill and Catherine Piotrowski at the front.

Figure 12 ………………………………………………………………………………….143 12.1 A replica of the Glebe Project Office eviction notice, “Notice to quit,” produced by the Sydney Anarchist Group (SAG) and distributed to tenants on the Glebe Estate, October 1978.

12.2 A leaflet produced by Glebe Project Office, “Special Notice to Tenants,” and distributed to tenants on the Glebe Estate to repudiate claims made by the SAG, 27 October 1978.

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12.3 Left to right: Catherine Piotrowski and Susan Ardill (SRCC collective member) in the kitchen at 130 Glebe Point Road, Glebe circa 1977.

Figure 13 ………………………………………………………………………………….144 13.1 “Squat!,” a newsletter for the Darlinghurst Squatters produced by SAG for resident squatters of the “compound,” August 1976.

13.2 The block of squatted houses, bounded by Sutton Lane, Palmer Street and Stanley Street, and known as the “compound,” circa 1977.

Figure 14 ………………………………………………………………………………….145 14.1 “Minor Fits: Practice in Public,” a poster advertising a musical event to be held at the squatted Gladstone Hotel, 117 William Street Darlinghurst, 13 June 1982.

14.2 A cartoon style leaflet, produced by the Aquarius Youth Services to advertise their services to the Darlinghurst youth, 1980.

14.3 Photographer and Darlinghurst Squatter, Michael Shirley in front of the row of squatted Bourke Street terraces in Darlinghurst, circa 1980.

Map 1. ………………………………………………………………………………………25 Victoria Street properties purchased by Victoria Point Pty Ltd, 1971.

Map 2. ………………………………………………………………………………………61 Glebe Estate properties owned by the Sydney Anglican Diocese and purchased by the federal government in 1974.

Map 3. ……………………………………………………………………………………..148 Squatted Premises on the Glebe Estate.

Map 4. ……………………………………………………………………………………..221 DMR properties in Darlinghurst between Stanley and William Streets.

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Map 5. ……………………………………………………………………………………….249 DMR properties in Glebe acquired by the NSW Housing Commission in 1984.

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