People stories and faces that make this place special

A new oral history initiative in Redfern has started recording interviews with long-term locals about daily life on the streets around Lawson Street and South Dowling Street.

The project matters now because Sydney continues to add thousands of new residents each year while older communities adapt to shifting streetscapes and transport links. Capturing these accounts preserves details that official records often miss, from the cost of a weekly shop at corner stores to the way families used public spaces before recent upgrades.

Local faces behind the markets and gardens

Volunteers at the Glebe Markets on Saturdays share stories of running stalls for over two decades, while staff at the Surry Hills Community Garden on Devonshire Street organise weekly sessions that draw residents from nearby terraces. These spots sit within walking distance of each other yet serve different crowds, one focused on second-hand goods and the other on shared produce plots that started in 2018.

Recent figures from the City of Sydney show 4,200 people took part in neighbourhood garden programs last financial year, up from 3,100 two years earlier. Average stall fees at Glebe Markets remain at $45 per Saturday, a rate that has held steady since 2023 and allows small operators to cover costs without large mark-ups.

Next steps for getting involved

Residents can sign up for the Redfern interviews through the local library branch on Elizabeth Street, where sessions run on Tuesday evenings through August. Checking market times on the Glebe Markets website or dropping by the Devonshire Street garden on weekday mornings offers direct ways to meet the people keeping these routines alive.