History

The site is on the lands of the Wurundjeri people. Today’s Aboriginal culture is part of the longest continuous living culture in the world, and we acknowledge that the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation have an important role in shaping its future, alongside the many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders who call North Richmond home.

European occupation brought dramatic changes to the riverine landscapes of the Richmond area.

The later decades of the 19th century of Melbourne’s growth saw Richmond develop into a tightly packed mix of worker’s cottages and industry. This was also when much of the road network we know today was created.

North Richmond was defined by industry, often using the Yarra River as an open sewer. Those who lived in the area were typically the workers of these industries and often lived in slum-like conditions.

These poor living conditions were exacerbated by the Great Depression with increasingly broken-down buildings and overcrowding.

In 1938, the Victorian government passed legislation to facilitate a ‘war on slums’. For North Richmond, change came later, in 1956, when the Housing Commission of Victoria began purchasing houses in North Richmond to make way for the current Anderson Court low-rise flats, marking the beginning of ‘slum clearance’ in North Richmond.

In the 1970s, following the Vietnam War, Richmond became home to many Vietnamese refugees. Victoria Street became known as ‘Little Saigon’, gradually transforming into a vibrant, restaurant and retail centre.

Various support and community services opened in this era, including North Richmond Community Health and the Richmond West Primary School. A strong community of Hakka East Timorese also came to live in North Richmond during the era of Indonesian occupation of East Timor.

Victoria Street attracts Melburnians as a ‘foodie’ destination, featuring many Vietnamese shops, alongside Thai, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean eateries.

In 1994, the first Victoria Street Lunar Festival is celebrated. The cultural diversity of the area is further strengthened with nearly 70 per cent of residents from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.