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Catholic Archdiocese rejected AMS Redfern's building requests for 25 years, files reveal

Aboriginal Medical Service makes renewed bid for Turner Street property as church's Sydney property empire grows

By LineZotpaper
Published
Updated
Read Time2 min
Sources4 outlets
The Archdiocese of Sydney has rejected repeated requests from the Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) Redfern to transfer ownership of the Turner Street building it has occupied for 55 years, according to a cache of files seen by the Herald. Former archbishop George Pell and his successor Anthony Fisher both rebuffed the service's bids, which have spanned more than 25 years.

The Anglican Medical Service Redfern, which treats thousands of the city's most disadvantaged residents and is recognised globally as a pioneer in Indigenous healthcare, has been trying to secure the former school property from the Catholic Church for decades.

According to the files, AMS leaders made their most recent attempt late last year, lodging a 13,200-word document outlining the compelling case for the transfer. The request was again rejected.

The property is a small former school on Turner Street, but for the AMS it represents both a missed opportunity for reconciliation and a critical piece of its future. For the Catholic Church, the site is a rounding error in a vast portfolio that includes churches, schools, hospitals, aged care homes and recent acquisitions such as a 15-storey office building on Elizabeth Street purchased for $97 million.

The church is one of Sydney's largest non-government property owners, with holdings valued in the billions, supported by a panel of 14 experts on property matters. It recently sold a Liverpool Street building for $275 million that it had purchased 20 years earlier for $33 million. Many transactions benefit from tax-exempt charitable status.

The files show the AMS has patiently worked to seal an agreement for more than a quarter of a century, only to be rebuffed by two successive archbishops.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The AMS Redfern is a landmark Indigenous health service; its inability to secure its own premises threatens its long-term stability and independence.
  • The rejection highlights ongoing tensions between the Catholic Church, one of Sydney's largest property owners, and Indigenous reconciliation efforts.
  • The outcome could set a precedent for how churches manage surplus land in communities they once served.

Background

The Aboriginal Medical Service Redfern was founded in 1971 and operates from the former school on Turner Street in inner Sydney. It is the oldest Aboriginal community-controlled health service in Australia. The building is owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney, which has long leased it to the AMS. Reports indicate that the service has sought to purchase or obtain the property on multiple occasions over more than 25 years, during the tenures of archbishops George Pell and Anthony Fisher.

The Catholic Church's property holdings in Sydney are extensive and largely opaque, encompassing not only places of worship but also commercial real estate and development sites. The archdiocese maintains a panel of 14 experts to advise on property transactions.

Key Perspectives

AMS Redfern: The health service, which has treated thousands of patients, sees ownership of the building as essential for its future and to secure the legacy of its pioneering work. It has pursued the matter respectfully over decades. Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney: The church has repeatedly declined to transfer the property, though it has not publicly explained its reasoning. It manages a vast portfolio and may view the site as a strategic asset or have other plans for it. Critics/Skeptics: Some may question the church's priorities, noting that the AMS's request comes amid broader debate about institutional land ownership and reconciliation. Others may argue the church has the right to manage its property as it sees fit.

What to Watch

  • Whether the AMS or its supporters launch a public campaign or seek political intervention.
  • Any response or statement from the Archdiocese of Sydney regarding the reports.
  • Potential calls for greater transparency around the church's property holdings and charitable tax benefits.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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