The legacy of the pioneers of the 1967 Referendum, 56 years on

Look back on the events, campaigns and activists that made the 1967 Referendum happen.

Campaigners for the 1967 referendum. Source: NITV

56 years ago, on May 27, the 1967 Referendum was held to change two sections of the Australian constitution in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

In an overwhelming 'yes' vote, 90.77 per cent of Australian voters voted for the changes.

The referendum came about from the work of many Indigenous activists across the country and over many years. 

There were protests and campaigns calling out the injustices facing Indigenous people. 

Here is a look back at those events and some of the people and organisations that lobbied for First Nations' rights in the lead up to the 1967 Referendum.

Firstly, what was changed in the constitution?

Two provisions were changed — Section 51 and Section 127. 

They previously read:

51. The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws for the peace, order, and good government of the Commonwealth with respect to:- …(xxvi) The people of any race, other than the aboriginal people in any State, for whom it is necessary to make special laws. 127. In reckoning the numbers of the people of the Commonwealth, or of a State or other part of the Commonwealth, aboriginal natives should not be counted.

Amending Section 51 allowed the federal government to make laws with respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Amending Section 127 meant people identifying as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander could be legally recorded in the census for the first time.

1938 — Rally at Australia Hall

On January 26, 1938, a rally was held at Australia Hall in Sydney protesting the treatment of Indigenous people over the past 150 years since the arrival of the First Fleet, and demanding more be done in regards to First Peoples' citizenship.  

On that day, the Australian Aboriginal Progressive Association (AAPA) joined forces with the Australian Aborigines' League and held a conference.

The first Day of Mourning. Source: Supplied: AIATSIS

Leaflets distributed during the rally said:

We appeal to the Australian nation of today to make new laws for the education and care of Aborigines, we ask for a new policy which will raise our people to full citizen status and equality within the community.

According to AIATSIS, approximately a hundred people attended with Yorta-Yorta man Jack Patten chairing the meeting and giving an impassioned speech. 

Mr Patten was the first president of the AAPA.

Other speakers included Bill Ferguson, Sir Doug Nicholls, William Cooper, Pearl Gibbs and Jack Kinchela.

A well-known name of the time, Yorta-Yorta man Sir Nicholls was active in the Aboriginal civil rights movement during his AFL career.

His great-uncle Mr Cooper was the founding secretary of the Australian Aborigines' League.

Ngemba woman, Ms Gibbs spent her early years as a domestic servant working in Sydney. She appealed to the NSW Aborigines Protection board to improve the work conditions for young Aboriginal domestics, who were apprenticed out by the state.

In 1954, after fighting for Aboriginal representation on the Aborigines’ Welfare Board, Ms Gibbs was appointed to the Board herself. Source: WikiCommons

1956-57 — formation of the Aboriginal-Australian Fellowship

Faith Bandler, along with Ms Gibbs and others established the Aboriginal-Australian Fellowship. 

In the late 50s, the organisation ran a petition campaign to raise awareness about equal rights and to change the Australian Constitution with the involvement of Australian suffragist and activist, Jessie Street.

In 1963 Faith Bandler became the New South Wales state secretary of FCAA. Source: Supplied

Ms Bandler, a South Sea Islander woman, proved to be integral in the 1967 Referendum movement and was appointed as the New South Wales campaign director for the 'Yes' campaign.   

Ms Bandler worked closely with other activists such as Dulcie Flower in the Fellowship.

Ms Flower, a Miri woman, went on to be appointed to Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2019 "for significant service to the Indigenous community, and to the 1967 Referendum Campaign".

1958 — FCAA is established

In this year the Federal Council for Aboriginal Advancement (FCAA) is formed and goes on to become a key organisation to campaign for the 'Yes' vote.

1961-64 — the fight for constitutional change

During this time, FCAA began a national petition "towards equal citizenship for Aboriginies".    

FCAA created and circulated a leaflet that explained the arguments for constitutional change.

According to the National Museum of Australia, Gordon Bryant, Stan Davey, Sir Doug Nicholls, Barry Christophers and Shirley Andrews worked on the "carefully worded draft which was sent to delegates in other states for refinement".

In 1964, FCAA became known as the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, or FCAATSI, to include Torres Strait Islander representation.

Joe McGinness (pictured) with Dulcie Flower was president of FCAATSI from 1961 to 1977. Source: Supplied: National Museum of Australia

Born in the NT, Joe McGinness (also spelled McGinniss) began advocating when he appealed to the Protection Board to ease restrictions against First Peoples in the Territory. 

As president of FCAATSI, Mr McGinness travelled across the country campaigning for the referendum.

Similarly, Bundjalung, Yugambeh, and Mulinjarli man, Lambert — or "Lambie" — McBride served as president of the Queensland branch of FCAATSI.

Lambert and May McBride. Source: Supplied: National Museum of Australia

He and wife May drove across Queensland, registering mob on the electoral roll and encouraging political involvement. 

Another milestone at the time, in 1963, Yolgnu people from north-east Arnhem Land presented parliament with the Yirrkala Bark Petition, protesting the removal of their homelands. This added momentum to the campaign and the prominence of civil rights happening in Australia and around the globe.

Yirrkala bark petitions, 1963. Source: Supplied: Commonwealth of Australia

1965-66 — Shining a spotlight on First Nations' struggle

At this time, landmark protest events are happening and gaining international attention.

In 1965, Charles Perkins led the Freedom Ride throughout regional New South Wales, putting a spotlight on the segregation of Aboriginal people.

On February 12th 1965, 29 non-Indigenous students boarded a bus with Aboriginal leader and rights campaigner Charles Perkins. Source: Supplied: University of Sydney

The Wave Hill walk-off also begins in 1966, with Gurindji man Vincent Lingiari leading his people on a strike for better working and pay conditions in the Northern Territory.

The Wave Hill protest began when 200 stockmen and their families walked off the cattle station at Wave Hill. Source: Brian Manning

1967 — History is made

In early 1967, a delegation of Indigenous representatives of FCAATSI travel to (old) parliament house and seek bipartisan support for a referendum, they include; Faith Bandler, Sir Douglas Nicholls, Harry Penrith, and Winnie Branson.

FCAATSI members met with prime minister Harold Holt. Source: Supplied: National Archives of Australia

On February 23, prime minister Harold Holt announced that the Constitution Alteration Bill has passed in both Houses of Parliament allowing for a referendum to be called.

On May 27, the Australian public overwhelmingly voted to change the constitution.