The Black Mile
The Black Mile (Gertrude Street, Fitzroy) has been a central hub where many of Victoria's Aboriginal community's own health, housing and legal organisations were born, including the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service. Established in 1973, the health service was designed to support the growing number of Aboriginal people who needed medical attention but were reluctant to attend mainstream services. Fitzroy offered Aboriginal people a strong sense of community and belonging, described by Iris Lovett Gardiner as 'the place where our people came to...although people's roots were elsewhere in the country' . Although gentrification has forced many Aboriginal people from the area, for many Victorian Aboriginal people, Fitzroy is still home.
Similar places of importance
EY would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land on which we meet today, the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation and pay our respect to their Elders both past and present, and to emerging community leaders. We also acknowledge the important role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within EY and in the communities we work with.
