Forty years ago Sydney’s Waterloo Estate was built as a ‘utopia’, opened by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. By 2018, the existing buildings and community will have disappeared - replaced primarily by those on high incomes. The socially diverse, dynamic, inner city community - with an important cultural heritage - will be changed forever. Getting in touch with the Waterloo community group #WeLiveHere2017, I was given the privilege of photographing and interviewing tenants within the estate. In doing so, I was able to capture a lived-experience within this inner city housing estate at this time of uncertainty. Commonly held views of those living in public housing are stigmatised. Through these portraits and telling the stories of those in these photos, I hope to intimately capture people living in this estate.
"I owned a butcher on Redfern Street for 4 years and then another on Raglan for 14 years. I've been heavily involved with this place for a long time... I was here for the riots and was even asked to give the eulogy at Shirley Colleen's funeral in 1998...
Years ago a school teacher asked me if I would take on a work experience boy who wanted to become a butcher. She told me, 'he comes from a good family and has been brought up well, but I need to let you know that he's aboriginal'. I told her, 'I don't give a damn if he's black, white, yellow or purple!' The boy did such a fine job that I gave him a hundred dollars at the end of his placement.
Not long later, when he finished school, he became my apprentice and I trained him to become a butcher. It doesn't matter what colour your skin is. It what's in your heart that matters. That's the same for everyone, no matter where you are in the world… I sold the business and moved into one of the flats because I was diagnosed with cancer. I'm riddled with it now and my heart is also in a bit of a bad way. I had a heart attack next to the IGA a few weeks ago and when I woke up in hospital I had no phone or wallet... I'm not too upset about it though. What's the point?
When I was first diagnosed, my doctor told me to drink some beer, go fishing and enjoy my life. So that's what I'm doing" - Chris.
"People complain that Waterloo is full of drug users. But people who do that stuff aren't all the same, you know... I know plenty of people who use drugs and they'd be the first to come help me if I was in trouble.
I'd rather live in Sin City than somewhere full of rich people! If I was every in a position where I needed a meal, I know about 15 people who'd feed me.
I've been here 40 years and four days before Christmas I was told I would be moved. I watched these buildings being built. This place is my life. I know wonderful people like Maria. These are my friends... Now where am I going to go?" - Betty (right) with Maria (left).
"I grew up in Lismore and moved to Sydney 4 years ago. I needed a change - I found it boring up there.
I don't see my family much these days... My sister will be moving here soon though! I think the 23rd of this month. I'm going to make sure I give her a call... maybe we can spend some time together." - Stanley
"I was a boot maker and then a tram driver. Do you know Bennelong Point? That was a tram depot. I worked the last shift before it was torn down to become the Sydney Opera House.
I drove the trams all over Sydney before they were taken away. There was a passenger called Bea Miles, and she could swear like a trooper! She never paid a penny for her ride. She would just tell the inspectors to get stuffed. Everybody knew of her. The whole time I was on the trams I never saw Bea pay the fare. Isn't that funny?
I've been in Waterloo for many decades. My wife, Vivian, and I had a great life together. It would have been 60 years this year... There's not a day that goes by when I don't think about her. She was also my best friend." - Dick
“Do you know where we'll be relocated when they rebuild this place? ... No one seems to know. There are thousands of us and we don't have answers. I'm not very mobile these days, so it would be good to know soon. It'll be hard for me if I have to move far from my daughters." - Carr
"I'm looking for a Seventh Day Adventist Church. I don't like too much singing and dancing though. I'm still new to Sydney. I come from Labasa.... Do you know where that is? It's in Fiji! A long way from here. My son says I'll make some friends if I go to church." - Joe
“A few years ago I was walking with my dog towards Redfern. A car came screeching around the corner and hit me. Fortunately a nice man helped me to the side of the road and called emergency. I was badly injured at the hip, but my dog was even more hurt than I was. She died right there with me. I'll never forget that... It was really bloody awful.
I'm a widow, so while I was recovering I had to rely on Shorty who worked at the Salvation Army. I don't know where I'd be without Shorty. I still call him sometimes, but I don't want to bother him too much. He has his own life to worry about" - June.
"I'm Louwana and this is my friend David. This is his dog Jesse. I moved here 25 years ago with my 3 kids, but they've all grown up and left home now... Guess what? It's my birthday next Tuesday. See that guy sitting on the grass over there? He shares the same day, month and year.... We're going to have a BBQ". - Louwana
"I'm in a Pater Garrett music video... I'm on Rage! I'm holding a 'not for sale' banner at the Waterloo Tent Embassy. That's in the vault forever.
I moved to Waterloo from Nowra. I met a lovely lady and had 2 beautiful boys. They're doing good, but sadly not everyone here is... I hate to see young people in bad situations. Drugs can take everything from someone's life. Everything. It makes me so sad - it really hurts me to see it.
Everybody experiences dark shadows at times, but we can all save lives. Young people need encouragement, they need a boost! That's where we can change things for them." - Wazza
You want my story? Well... My mum was an alcoholic and couldn't look after me. Although I'm white, I was brought up by an Aboriginal family in a small town called Muli Muli. They fed me, clothed me and got me to school. No dis to Mum... I love her... She's gone now, bless her soul, but she just couldn't do it... Addiction takes hold of a lot of people.
I got my trade, got a house and got married. At 21, I broke my back on a motorbike. A few years later my wife told me that our 3 year old son wasn't mine. I packed up and left. I left everything to her: my son, the house, car and dog. I became addicted to some serious stuff and ended up doing a year of rehab.
I'm glad I came here, but I hate it. In a year from now these blocks will be knocked down. Everyone's freaking out... They're all on edge because they don't know when, where or how they're gonna go. I love this community, but it's not good right now. It's tense.
I've got my plan. I'm about to make a major life change... Years ago me and my 2 best mates agreed that one day we would sail the world. Heath passed away, but Paul just sold his house and bought a 40ft catamaran. I'm about to get on that catamaran and we're off north!" - Mick
"Best thing about Waterloo? Well, all my family and friends live around here. Also, I can walk around at night and I feel real safe cause... well, you know, everyone kinda knows everyone" - Trinity (with Deane and Talena)
"I'm saving up to buy a house and move out of Waterloo. There's no way I'll afford Sydney though, I'll move out to the country somewhere.
I'm not too worried about leaving, but there are things I'll miss. I spend time helping out the old people up here. You know, odd jobs they can't do themselves. Lifting heavy things... That's sort of stuff. It's good spending time with them." - Michael
"I moved to Sydney 40 years ago from Korea. While I travel back every year or so, this is now my home. I love Waterloo... I play the saxophone at local events. People seem to enjoy my music." - Joseph
James Cook Building, Waterloo Estate.
"Did you know that Singapore is the world's busiest international sea port? ... I moved there from Burma to work as a naval engineer when I was a young man.
I spent decades travelling the world with that job. If we were carrying sand or cement, we would be stranded in a city for weeks. That's because they couldn't unload the goods in bad weather. To me, that wasn't a bad thing. I had a great time - I would eat, drink and meet all sorts of people!
Maybe it was because of my job, but I never really settled down. I don't have a wife or kids, but I'm not sad about that. I have a lot of friends.
I'm now in my 60s and people say I look younger than I am... Maybe that's because I'm happy on the inside." - Mynty
Top floor of Turanga Tower, Waterloo.