An 80 Year Sit In

Equal pay, was only part of the disrespect afforded Aboriginal peoples. Under the Aboriginal Protection Act indigenous people were not allowed to live within one mile of Dunwich and North Stradbroke Island’s aboriginal families were forcibly shifted to an aboriginal settlement at Myora Springs, where they lived from 1892 until 1940. Closed in 1941, people shifted to nearby One Mile to be closer to work at the Benevolent Asylum only to have it close. A near 80 year sit in ensued and counting. In 1952, the state government unsuccessfully tried to remove indigenous people from One Mile with a proposal to provide 96 allotments at Myora. Which was never realised.

A One Mile Sovereign Resident Council formed – a group of Island indigenous residents, wanting to retain a “sovereign position” at the settlement as reported by Redland City Bulletin’s article One Mile Issue Raised in Paliament . The article goes onto quote spokesperson for the One Mile Sovereign Resident Council, Dale Ruska who said some residents wanted to “reclaim” ancestral lands to rectify housing needs and social issues at One Mile. Redland Council says the 30-hectare parcel of land is “unallocated state land” and until some state government decisions are made on its usage, Redlands cannot “rate” the land or begin the process of providing fresh water supply, or sewerage for the 150 or so residents this time reported in the Brisbane Time Article Stradbroke Islands Forgotten Mile.

https://www.redlandcitybulletin.com.au/story/2973993/one-mile-issue-raised-in-parliament/