The Victorian Aboriginal Health Service opened on this site in 1973. The VAHS was partly inspired by the volunteer-run Aboriginal Medical Service which opened in Redfern in 1971. This period saw the rapid expansion of VAHS initiatives supporting Aboriginal community wellbeing, including the opening of the Fitzroy Stars Aboriginal Community Youth Club Gymnasium in 1977, originally at 173 Gertrude St. In March 1979, Muhammad Ali visited the service at this site at the invitation of local activists including Gary Murray, who recalled in 2015 that “Ali was impressed, and told the crowd gathered on the corner outside the Builders Arms: “Let religion be your shopfront and your business at the back.” Soon after this, the VAHS moved to 136 Gertrude St where it operated until 1993.
by laurenpiko on March 2, 2019Please login to comment on this item