History

Aboriginal land rights and demands for equal rights originally began in the 1700’s when the first Aboriginal people were killed off or forcibly removed from their traditional lands and treated as less than human.  From that time onwards Aboriginal people have continued to struggle for proper recognition as the Indigenous people of this country with the right to be self determining and self managing. 

Up to the 1960’s Aboriginal housing, together with all other aspects of Aboriginal Affairs, was a state matter with each State formulating and enforcing its own programs, policies, regulations and laws over Aboriginal people. 

It was not until the 1970’s following federalisation of Aboriginal Affairs in accordance with the vote of the Australian people in the referendum of 1967 that proper recognition by government began to be provided to Aboriginal people.  During this time Aboriginal people had developed political systems that fought for and won funding for our own community managed and run organisations and in Victoria most of these are still in existence today. 

When the Aboriginal Housing Board of Victoria (“AHBV”) was formally established by a steering committee in 1981 it was handed the responsibility of ensuring that eventually the Aboriginal community would gain ownership of the State administered Aboriginal Rental Housing Program.  During the two year operation of the steering committee from 1979 to 1980 decisions not only centred around how the Aboriginal community would manage the Aboriginal Rental Housing Program but also what arrangements needed to be made in order to achieve ownership in the not too distant future.  Aboriginal community ownership was always seen by the Aboriginal community as the ultimate goal for the then newly established AHBV. 

Historical Timeline 

1972	Federal Government federalized AboriginalAffairs in accordance with the vote of the Australian people in the referendum of 1967
December, 1974	Transfer of Functions Bill passed and StateGovernment agencies assume responsibilityfor Aboriginal Affairs within their specificareas ie Aboriginal Housing to Housing Commission of Victoria (State Housing Authority)
June, 1978	First State Aboriginal Housing meeting held in Collingwood where decision made to establish a Steering Committee
1979-1980	State Aboriginal Housing Steering Committeemeetings held during this time
October, 1980	State Cabinet ratify constitution of Board
February, 1981	First Statewide elections held for all Board Member positions
April, 1981	Inaugural meeting of the Aboriginal Housing Board of Victoria in Melbourne
June, 1981	Office established at 108 Smith Street,Collingwood
May, 1982	First Policy and Procedures Document on Aboriginal Housing accepted by the Board
September, 1982	First Annual General Meeting held inNorthcote and first Annual Report produced and circulated
December, 1982	Boards proposal on Aboriginal Housing LiaisonOfficers receives approval by the State
December, 1982	Accommodation Standards accepted by the Board
October, 1983	Boards' registration as public company limited by guarantee finalized
February, 1985	First Statewide Aboriginal Housing Conferenceheld at Camp Jungai
1987	Board transfers to new office premises inGertrude Street, Fitzroy
1988	Community protest about evictions
March 1988	Community meetings held after each monthly Board meeting in Mooroopna, Morwell, Dandenong, Mildura, Ballarat, Warrnambool and Melbourne
July, 1988	Statewide Rental Arrears Strategy Meeting held inEchuca
November, 1988	Second Statewide Housing Conference held in Mildura. Feasibility Study on Future Ownership of the Aboriginal Housing Program tabled at Conference where endorsement received
May 1989	Consultant appointed and Feasibility Study commences
July 1989	Consultant talks to Communities about Future Ownership of the Aboriginal Housing Program. First Board Newsletter produced and it provides information about the Forward Plan
Sept 1989	Board adopts amendments to its constitution at AGM held in Echuca
February, 1990	Feasibility Study completed
Aug 1990	Workshop on Feasibility Study report held in MelbourneAnd Forward Plan developed from results of discussion
Aug 1990	Board formally adopts Forward Plan at August 1990 meeting
April, 1991	First Workshop on Implementation of Forward Plan held in Melbourne
1991-1993	Implementation of Forward Plan proceeds throughout the next three years
April 1994	Board adopts amendments to its constitution at meeting
May, 1994	Second Forward Plan Workshop held in Melbourne
1994-1995	Implementation of Forward Plan continues
February, 1995	Board transfers to new office premises atScotchmer Street, North Fitzroy
July, 1995	Aboriginal Housing Section, DPD transformedinto Aboriginal Housing Services Unit, DPDand fee for service arrangement commences
October, 1995	Workshop and consultations held to developState Plan and Corporate Plan at Melbourne
December, 1995	State Plan and Corporate Plan endorsed byBoard
February, 1996	Statewide Elections for Board Members
March 1996	First Corporate Plan Workshop at Melbourne
June 1996	Policies and Procedures Workshop at Marysville
July 1996	Commencement of Service Agreement
Sept 1996	Start of statewide tour of Ellimatta Historical Photographic Exhibition
Oct 1997	Team Building Workshop held in Melbourne
Oct 1997	ATSIC consultancy on future housing arrangements for Victoria commences
Dec 1997	ATSIC Housing conference on future housing arrangements for Victoria held at Camp Jungai
Feb 1998	Launch of Ellimatta Historical Photographic Exhibition Catalogue Book during Housing Week
Feb 1998	Paper on Proposed Bilateral Agreement - Options for Aboriginal Housing in Victoria presented to Board meeting for discussion
March 1998	Paper on Proposed Bilateral Agreement - AHBV Option for Aboriginal Housing in Victoria presented to Board at its meeting
May, 1998	Planning Workshop held at Marysville
Feb 1999	Launch of Elders poster during Housing Week held at Melbourne
Feb 1999	Statewide Elections for all Board Member positions
Feb 1999	Board adopts amendments to its constitution at Special General Meeting held in Melbourne
July 1999	Forward Plan Strategy Workshop held at Mansfield
Oct 1999	Policies and Procedures Workshop held at Thornbury
Dec 1999	Consultant and Project Officer present Forward Plan 'Where We Are Now Report' to the Board at its meeting

 Aboriginal Housing Victoria ABN 38 006 210 546
Narrandjeri House, 125-127 Scotchmer Street, North Fitzroy, VIC 3068
T: (03) 9482 4585  F: (03) 9482 3964  E: info@ahvic.org.au  www.ahvic.org.au