NAIDOC

The City Archives drawn together on this page records relating to NAIDOC celebrations.

Each July, NAIDOC Week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

NAIDOC in the City (2012-2021) is proudly presented by First Nations people in partnership with the City of Sydney.

The origins can be traced back to the Aboriginal Rights Movement. On Australia Day 1938, a march was conducted through the streets of Sydney protesting the status and treatment of Aboriginal people. This protest was one of the first major civil rights gatherings in the world and it became known as the ‘Day of Mourning’.

From 1940 until 1955, the Day of Mourning was held annually on the Sunday before Australia Day and was known as Aborigines Day. In 1955 Aborigines Day was shifted to the first Sunday in July after it was decided the day should become not simply a protest day but also a celebration of Aboriginal culture. (see www.naidoc.org.au/)

Prior to 2008, the NAIDOC Week events in the City of Sydney were coordinated by the Inner City Aboriginal Multi-Purpose Association (ICAMPA). ICAMPA was comprised of representatives from Aboriginal organisations and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers from government departments. NAIDOC Week events were delivered with financial and staffing support from the City. Events were organised in Redfern and Woolloomooloo and included a flag raising ceremony, Redfern Park to the Block march on the first Monday of NAIDOC Week, an Elder's Lunch and the Redfern NAIDOC Week Family Day.

Following recommendations from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Panel in response to Sustainable Sydney 2030; the City’s Eora Journey introduced a signature event in 2012 to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. The event, called NAIDOC in the City, has been held in Hyde Park since 2012. The intention of the NAIDOC in the City celebration is to promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, identity, knowledge and businesses to the broader City community of residents and visitors. Since 2012 until 2019 the event attracted 4500 up to 10,000 attendees. In 2020 NAIDOC in the City went online for the first time.

The kinds of records held by the archives are highlighted here, however, these are not exhaustive. You may find more items relating to NAIDOC by using the search tool, or contacting the City Archives.

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The views expressed in these records may not reflect the City’s views, but rather those of the period in which they were created.

The City acknowledges the Gadigal of the Eora Nation as the Traditional Custodians of this place we now call Sydney, and we acknowledge their continued connection to Country. We pay respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past, present and emerging.

Sovereignty was never ceded - this always was and always will be Aboriginal Land.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this catalogue contains images and voices of people who have died. In some Aboriginal communities, seeing the names and photographs of dead people may cause sadness and distress, particularly to relatives of those people.