1972 - The Beginning

The 1972 Tent Embassy

A newspaper article recorded in a book published by Gordon Cheers, Australia Through Time, states points concerning the contrast in living conditions of White Australians and Aboriginal Australians, also saying that most White Australians are only dimly aware of such experiences.

Such an article inspired by the 1972 Tent Embassy proves that this event in European history was the beginning of a long and continuing struggle for Aboriginal recognition.

Michael Anderson Michael Anderson

Information
A Five Point policy was put forward by the Embassy in 1972 as follows

Full State rights to the Northern Territory under Aboriginal ownership and control with all titles to minerals etc;
Ownership of all other reserves and settlements throughout Australia with all titles to minerals and mining rights;
The preservation of all sacred sites not covered by the first two points;
Ownership of certain areas of certain cities with all titles to minerals and mining rights; and
As compensation, an initial payment of $6 billion for all the other land throughout Australia plus an annual percentage of the Gross National Income.

A Law was put in place making it against the law to camp on Crown Land. In the Northen Terrirory except for Aboriginal People because the Northen Terrirory is mostly crown land, no one thought that Aboriginal's would camp on crown land in Canberra "Australian Capital Terittory" thus making it legal for them to camp on the lawns outside the Old Parliament House.

Violent fights broke out when the police tore the Embassy down on three occasions, Police struggled to keep the protestors under control.

During the Tent Embassy of 1972 the Aboriginal Flag, designed by Harold Thomas and Gray Foley, was flown for the first time, the Embassy was established to draw attention to Aboriginal demands for recognition of their rights to tribal lands.

The Embassy was born on 26th January (Australia Day) with the whole world tuning in to follow the "Tent Embassy Story".
Police pulled tents down on the 20th of July using brutal force but the tents were re-erected after this and the struggle for Reconciliation has not stopped since.

All of this just 5 years after the recognition of Aboriginal Citizenship in the 1967 referendum.

Site of Current Embassy and 1972 Embassy

The current Embassy on the site of the 1972 Embassy

Protestors held signs at dawn on Wednesday 26th January reading:

LAND RIGHTS NOW OR ELSE

LEGALLY THIS LAND IS OUR LAND. WE SHALL TAKE IT IF NEED BE

LAND NOW NOT LEASE TOMORROW

The Outcome
- Teachers Handbook had a section removed stating that "The Principal of the school may refuse enrolment of Aboriginal Children".

- Perhaps the most important outcome was that the Tent Embassy marked the point in Australia's history where Aboriginals said "we have had enough".

Did this Embassy Fail?
The Aboriginal Tent Embassy of 1972 can be looked upon from two main perspectives, that it did the first Aboriginal Tent Embassy fail or did it succeed?
Firstly, lets consider the first Tent Embassy as failing, this can be rationalised because of the need for a second Embassy in 1992 hence suggesting that this attempt for Aboriginal Recognition failed.

Secondly, it could be said that the Embassy of 1972 was successful in that it triggered the start of Aboriginal resistance leading to the erection of the present Aboriginal Tent Embassy now in 1998.

For more information on the 1972 tent Embassy see the Time Line for other dates and minor issues concerning Aboriginal affairs between 1972 and 1998

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[My Visit to the 1998 Embassy][Where is the Embassy?]