1988

On 24 January 1988, the Bondi Pavilion hosted the Building Bridges concert. It is now regarded as a significant moment in the recognition of Indigenous rights in Australia. The event showcased black and white talent and was planned as a lead-up event for people arriving from all over Australia for the Long March for Justice, Freedom and Hope in Sydney. The march was held two days after the concert and was attended by 40,000 people.

The two events were a counterpoint to official Bicentenary celebrations, which did little to recognise the contribution of First Nations people or the injustices they had endured over the previous 200 years. Indigenous groups, supported by many in the Maori community, came together across the nation to boycott and protest against many official celebrations.

The Building Bridges concert aimed to combat racism while raising the profile of First Nations musicians. It was described as an uplifting, politically charged event, with 3000 Indigenous and non-indigenous people on their feet for 6 hours of performance in the Bondi Pavilion courtyard. The MCs, Gary Foley and Peter Garrett, delivered messages of anti-discrimination, unity and hope, while artists including Shane Howard, Goanna, Mixed Relations and Les Shillington performed. Now-MP Linda Burnie received one of the loudest cheers of the day, telling the crowd: ‘If you hear racist words, don't sit back and not speak up; if you see whites mistreating blacks in any way, act upon it; otherwise you are as much a hypocrite as everyone who has let these problems exist until today.’

Garrett surprised the crowd when his band, Midnight Oil, performed. It was their first show together for 12 months.

The event was co-ordinated by the Building Bridges Association, which included musicians Kev Carmody and Paul Kelly, as well as Jacqui Katona, Tony Duke and Jim George.

The association aimed to use music to link Aboriginal people and culture to wider audiences. The following year, the group launched a compilation album at the Bondi Pavilion called Australia has a Black History. It supported many emerging First Nations artists including Yothu Yindi.

Courtesy the Gujaga Foundation, Waverley Library Local Studies Collection, Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy SEARCH Foundation.