The Aboriginal Tent Embassy: still standing over 50 years later

This week marks the anniversary of the establishment of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, which has been standing in Canberra for over 50 years.

Established on 26 January 1972, the Aboriginal Tent Embassy is an enduring national symbol of Indigenous protest and resistance.

The Embassy began when a group of Aboriginal activists - Michael Anderson, Billy Craigie, Bertie Williams, and Tony Coorey - erected a beach umbrella and signs on the lawns of what is now Old Parliament House, demanding recognition of Indigenous land rights. Their peaceful protest rapidly gained national and media attention, gradually evolving into a permanent structure.

Although not recognised as an official embassy, the name was deliberately chosen to highlight the fact that Indigenous Australians had never ceded sovereignty, nor had there ever been a treaty process with the Crown.

In the decades since, the Embassy has been a focal point for Indigenous advocacy - drawing attention to issues such as land rights and systemic discrimination. It has weathered numerous challenges, including attempted evictions and clashes, yet has endured as the world’s longest ongoing protest for Indigenous land rights.