The groundbreaking musical, political and cultural legacy of Archie Roach AC AM and Ruby Hunter have honoured with a permanent new sculpture unveiled in Fitzroy’s Atherton Gardens.
Uncle Archie Roach (Gunditjmara/Bundjalung) and Aunty Ruby Hunter (Ngarrindjeri/Kokatha/Pitjantjatjara) were extraordinary musicians and storytellers whose work resonated deeply with truth and resilience. Both Stolen Generation survivors, they used their music to share powerful narratives of loss, survival, and connection to Culture.
Fitzroy, a place of immense significance to Aboriginal people in Victoria, was central to Archie and Ruby’s lives. Archie’s acclaimed debut album, Charcoal Lane, was named after a lane off Gertrude Street in Fitzroy. The album featured Ruby’s autobiographical song, “Down City Streets,” which told her story of hardship and hope. Archie also worked at Fitzroy’s George Wright Hostel, a critical place for many reconnecting with family after being forcibly removed.
Archie’s song “Took the Children Away” became an anthem for the Stolen Generations, articulating his own experience of being taken at two years old. His life’s work amplified the voices of countless others affected by these traumatic policies.
Ruby was a trailblazer herself, becoming the first Aboriginal woman in Australia to record a solo album in 1994. Her artistry extended to acting and collaborations, such as Ruby’s Story with Paul Grabowsky.
Together, Archie and Ruby left a legacy of healing and empowerment, their voices continuing to inspire generations.
The bronze statues, created by Melbourne artist Darien Pullen, are set in a newly landscaped space, designed by Melbourne-based architect Jefa Greenaway and landscape architect Paul Herzich, that pays tribute to the couple’s connection with the area, its rich Aboriginal history and significance to the Stolen Generations.
Archie’s sister, Aunty Myrtle Roach, said the Atherton Gardens will always be a significant place for her family.
“Fond and treasured memories of a bygone era for the ole parkies like myself. It’s only fitting my brother’s statue and dear Ruby find its permanent place there for all my people and the community to share,” she said.
“We as a family feel both a sense of sadness and excitement as we celebrate two legends and so much-loved members of the Roach and Hunter family.”
The statues honour Archie and Ruby’s impact on Australian music, their contribution to Indigenous rights, and the mark they made on the country’s broader political, social and cultural landscape and the lives of many people.
An accessible path leading to the site from Gertrude Street is etched with the footprints of Archie and Ruby’s totem animals, including the pelican, black swan, wedge-tailed eagle and red-bellied black snake.
The Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation and Yarra City Council worked closely with members of the Roach and Hunter families on the project, with funding from the Labor Government through the Creative Industries portfolio.
