Roberts Street Project
Residents were given their own disposable cameras and also worked with photographer Angela Bailey in order to capture their individual and collective memories of their lives, homes and sense of place whilst living at Roberts Street. Between July and October 2007 residents were relocated from their homes. The Estate is to be demolished early in 2008. Many of them hope to return when it is rebuilt early in 2010
Just below the hustle and bustle of shoplined High Street, Northcote, are two blocks of walk-up flats that comprise the Roberts Street Public Housing Estate. Behind their weary walls lay home to 47 colourful residents. Old and weathered, after almost 50 years, the Estate is now being laid to rest. This has not been easy news for the residents. Over the years Roberts Street has become a community of sorts and been home to many people, some for a large part of their elderly lives. Friendships have developed, bonds formed, and memories shared. Although residents know the blocks of flats were tired and old, even falling apart in places, laying them to rest seems harsh. For residents, the women in particular, the sense of sadness and feeling of loss in their lives – loss of their homes – was extremely strong. This pain transformed itself into a desire to capture a part of their lives, and the buildings of Roberts Street, before they are lost forever.
This project, conducted by Women’s Health In the North, does exactly that. This photographic essay captures the way in which these spirited residents breathe life into a building that, for many a detached onlooker, is nothing more than a dilapidated housing estate. For these residents, their flats, their homes, are spaces to create and a place where their histories and sense of identity belong. Home is at the very heart of expressing who we are, giving shape and meaning and, one would hope, a sense of ownership over our most immediate of environments. For the residents of Roberts Street home is an emotional haven, a place to take refuge from the challenges and demands of life. It is a place of intimacy, privacy, and comfort. The anguish experienced by residents upon losing this haven, especially at such a late stage in their lives, is why this photographic essay was created. It is intended to capture a moment in history, and to be a tribute to the residents and the spirit they breathed into a building that is to be no more.
Vi is 86 years of age and has lived at Roberts Street for over 16 years.She has been Val’s neighbour for 14 of those years, seeing her daily. She speaks to another neighbour Alice, who lives downstairs and is bedridden, up to 8 times a day. She feels sad at the thought of leaving her friends and bedsit. ‘I know so many of the local shopkeepers who come and deliver to me. They are like family.’ Vi was overjoyed at participating in the photo project and seeing photos of herself and friends. ‘I haven’t had any photos taken of me for over twenty years. I look 30 years younger’, she laughs. She sent photos to her son who lives in the country and hasn’t seen her for many years.
Cath has lived at Roberts Street for 15 months with her pet dog Kim. They are affectionately known as ‘Cath and Kim’ by residents. Although she has lived at Roberts Street for just a short period, she has made many friends, and participates regularly in the mosaic art class and the BBQs. Cath says ‘There were a lot of characters at Roberts Street. Sometimes they’d drive you crazy but we all had a good laugh.’
Cath has lived in the local area for much of her life and hopes to find a new home not too far away.
Rose is 66 years of age and has lived at Roberts Street for just over a year and a half. She was born in Italy and came to Australia when she was 8 years old. Her family first settled in Mildura. She left when she was young and married, settling into life in Sydney. She moved to Melbourne in 1970. Since living at Roberts Street Rose has explored her creative side by painting regularly. Encouraged by her friends, her talents have flourished and she recently had her first painting exhibition. She loves being able to see the Dandenongs from her bedroom window, the fireworks and hot air balloons. ‘I’ll miss my great view of the city and our monthly BBQ get togethers. We’ve had lots of fun here. I’m feeling like the idea of moving is a bit stressful. I feel anxious and have an upset stomach. It’s gonna take a while to get used to it.’
Rosa is in her early 60s and has lived at Roberts Street for just over 6 years. She spends a lot of time with her friend and neighbour Shirley, sharing cups of tea and gardening tips. Her passion is gardening and she has created her own ‘Garden of Eden’ since living at Roberts Street. She attends weekly mosaic art classes with Shirley and Cath and says she will miss the BBQs and bus outings. ‘I feel sad that I move, my plants my garden, my friends. I’ll miss them.’
Val is in her mid 70s and has lived at Roberts Street for 14 years. She was born in the local area and has lived in Clifton Hill, Collingwood and Northcote areas all her life. The picture of Vall as a little girl was taken at a shop on Smith Street, Collingwood in the 1940s. She is a die-hard Collingwood football supporter and, says if she wasn’t ‘so old I would be at every footy match.’
Val will miss her friends at Roberts Street dearly but she won’t ‘miss the bloody stairs’ she had to climb with her walking frame daily.
Shirley is 75 years of age and has lived at Roberts Street for over 18 years. She has many friends and recalls how residents have ‘helped one another out over the years. I couldn’t understand my neighbour Rosa for a while so I got a book on Italian so I could answer her questions.’ Shirley attends mosaic and cooking classes at Roberts Street and loves gardening. Shirley says she’ll miss the friends she’s made over the years. ‘When I first came, there were caretakers and they’d keep everything looking good, but they let it run down over the years. Once I heard some people in the park next door say “they’re a bunch of no hopers”, and that’s “its very rough in there” and that “no decent person would live in a place like that” and that “it deserves to get demolished”. And I said “I live there and over in my flats, there are some quite nice people, thank you very much.”’ Her hope for the future is to ‘have modern flats and for everyone to be happy and for caretakers and security and tenant workers to come and help the people’.
Prominently displayed amongst Shirley’s treasures is her family portrait dating back to her childhood years.
