Erskineville's Road Wars: 40th Anniversary Celebration

Forty years ago, Erskineville residents rose up to defend their narrow streets from an automotive invasion, and won.

From the early 1970’s, inner city residents had been suffering from excessive through traffic. In the decade up to 1984, 41 pedestrians were injured or killed in Erskineville.

After traffic studies and consultation, a number of Erskineville streets were closed in 1984.

Then suddenly on Christmas Eve 1985, road barriers in 11 streets in Erskineville, Alexandria, Newtown and Redfern were ordered to be removed by the NSW Government. Within a few hours residents set up their own blockades and started planning further action. A “six day war” began where police and council workers repeatedly removed the barriers and residents re-erected them.

Today, streets such as Union, Rochford, Angel and others in surrounding suburbs are quiter and safer thanks to the campaigners efforts.

On the 40th anniversary, we look back on the history of those events and thank those who took part. A presentation with rare footage will be shown and we will hear from some of those involved.