Victoria Street Residents Action Group account books, created and maintained by Peter Wright, 6 July-26 November 1973

MLMSS 10159

fonds

6 July-26 November 1973

9611794

0.01 metres of textual material - manuscript

During the early 1970s, Victoria Street in Kings Cross became the focus of a long running anti-development struggle that brought together long term residents, unionists and squatters in a campaign of squatting and community action across Sydney.

In June 1971 the Victoria Point Pty Ltd (VPPL) company lodged a development application for a major commercial and apartment complex in Victoria Street, Kings Cross. In March 1973 a proposal to classify the Victoria Street precinct as historically significant was submitted to the National Trust. On 3 April 1973 Michael Arthur and Co proceeded with mass eviction of tenants from the Victoria Street terraces. In response, the Victoria Street Residents’ Action group (VRAG) was formed by local residents opposing development.

When negotiations to halt evictions failed, a decision was taken on 7 June 1973, to occupy number 57 Victoria Street (one of a row of terraces known as Denham Court). The following day VRAG members occupied number 59; and two days later they occupied number 109, the house in front of the ‘stables’, the eventual headquarters and meeting space of the squatter community.

During the period of occupation, the squatters established a community with a strong sense of cooperation and support amongst the members. A food coop was formed where resident squatters would place an order each week for fruit and vegetables and these items would then be purchased in bulk at the Haymarket produce markets in Sydney. Residents and friends of VRAG also donated money for maintenance of the properties for electricity and gas and records of these transactions were kept.

The Victoria Street occupation ceased on 4 January 1974, when a thirty-person team of “controllers”, employed by the Victoria Point Pty Ltd (VPPL), with assistance from police, evicted eighty people from the houses and arrested others who refused to leave.

Reference:
Library correspondence file

Peter Wright was a participant in donor's PhD research

Comprises two account books created and maintained by Peter Wright, a resident activist in the Victoria Street Residents Action Group (VRAG), July-November 1973. The account books document some of the activities of VRAG during the first public squatting and housing campaign in New South Wales in the early 1970s.

The Maintenance Cash Book, lists expenses such as hardware, food, masking tape, taxis, locks and keys cut, cleaning products, electricity bills, as well as payments received for the house fund. Also included are loose receipts for electricity payments, overdue notices, and sundry items, 7 July-10 September 1973.

The Food Co-op Account, lists members of the coop, their house or flat number, receipts and payments. Also contains loose sheets of individual food orders, 6 July-26 November 1973.

Copyright status:: In copyright
Copyright holder:: State Library of New South Wales
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales