Protesters at Moree War Memorial Hall during the 1965 Freedom Ride (Image courtesy of Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales).
Moree Memorial Hall will mark the town’s place in the 1965 Freedom Ride when a Blue Plaque is officially unveiled at 11am on Thursday, August 13.
The Balo Street building played a part in the Freedom Riders’ campaign in Moree, where university students and local Aboriginal people challenged racial segregation.
The plaque is part of the 1965 Freedom Ride Blue Plaque Trail, which follows important places along the route taken by the Student Action for Aborigines group through regional NSW.
Led by Charles Perkins, the group left Sydney in February 1965 to draw attention to discrimination against Aboriginal people in country towns.
NSW Government Environment and Heritage records that the Freedom Riders arrived in Moree on February 15, 1965, where they learned of a council by-law that refused Aboriginal people entry to the town pool.
They carried out surveys, organised peaceful pickets and spoke with local residents.
The NSW Government’s account of the site says a public meeting was held that evening at the Moree Memorial Town Hall, where the Freedom Riders presented evidence of segregation at the pool.
Local Aboriginal resident Neville Kelly called for the by-law to be abolished. With support from businessman and former alderman Bob Brown, the motion passed with strong community backing.
The Freedom Riders left Moree, but returned only days later after learning the by-law had been brought back.
They collected Aboriginal children from the Mission and Bingara Road Reserve and travelled with them to the pool, where they called for equal access alongside Aboriginal families.
A hostile crowd gathered and the protest turned violent, with several Freedom Riders physically attacked.
After lengthy negotiations, the mayor agreed to remove the by-law.
The events in Moree became an important part of a campaign that drew national attention to the treatment of Aboriginal people in country NSW.
A Welcome to Country will be delivered by Uncle Barry Sampson from the Moree Elders Group.
Moree Plains Shire Mayor Cr Susannah Pearse, Moree Local Aboriginal Land Council chairperson Harold French and representatives of the Elders Group will also take part in the event.
Historical Freedom Ride photographs and displays will be shown as part of the ceremony.
The wider heritage trail uses QR codes to help visitors learn more about the people, places and events linked to the Freedom Ride.
Related: Moree Blue Plaque to symbolise injustices faced by Aboriginal people.
