Ultimo and Pyrmont Residents Action Group (UPRAG)

In April 1971, as property developers and the Department of Main Roads converged, UPRAG sprang to life to defend residents and their homes. Their vision was medium density development so that people could live, work and play in the same local area. They demanded reconfiguration of old industrial buildings, public transport (instead of arterial roads) and the adoption of zoning, taxation and other incentives to achieve this outcome.

UPRAG’s allies included other Sydney Resident Action Groups (RAGS), and the Builders Labourers Federation with its Green Bans. As the developers had the support of the National Trust as well as the state government, UPRAG fought an uphill battle: many residents were either threatened or paid to leave. As houses fell empty, they were sometimes vandalised, so UPRAG adopted squatting as a way of bringing people back to the area and protecting houses. The group then declined and disappeared.

Related Items

• Community Groups

• Housing

• Politics of Urban Renewal

• Squatting

Further Reading

• UPRAG – Tharunka report