INVASION DAY

PAY-THE-RENT! 

Despite it being shady-as to open on Invasion Day, each and every year, Roxxi’s Poolroom Tattooshop bucked the opinion and offers free tattoos for First Nations mob

Paying the rent feels natural to us, and important because of the land and history of where we conduct our business. Before we set up shop on Johnston Street, Roxxi’s originated on Gertrude Street in Fitzroy - a meeting place for Mob – then, now, and into the future – but especially between the 60s and the 80s, when people were trying to trace their families after the Stolen Generations. So, it’s an honour to work here, on this land. Paying the rent simply honours the sovereignty of First Nations Australians.

Colette and met with Kristy Dickinson, a Wiradjuri woman and creator of the wildly popular statement-making jewellery Haus of Dizzy, Like stars colliding, an instant and passionate collaboration was borne. This powerhouse brand’s IG clout and incredible energy helped connect us to thousands of like-minded people. 

Tattooing on Invasion Day isn’t tokenistic to us and we’ve always proudly shown up: we’ve stocked merch from Clothing the Gaps, and sell Black Flag t-shirts. We hung a picture of Uncle Archie Roach and a poster recognising First Nations people as the traditional custodians of this land in the front window, hosted benefit gigs with Virus Sound System and donated the funds to community via Black Rainbow  (positive health and wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQIA+SB community) and Change The Record (End imprisonment of Indigenous youth and children, raise the age!) 

Or mob-only tattoo flash sheet includes the Aboriginal flag, has included the Māori flag as well as showing our solidarity with the people of Palestine.  Each moment of the day is a conversation, because the idea of opening our doors on Invasion Day leads to a lot of talk, but conversation starters are a deadly way to chat to the wider community about the diversity and history of Australia – Blak history.

The Roxxi’s Poolroom clan take the leap and put themselves out there publicly. The online response is always overwhelmingly heartfelt, and although a few people decide to flex negative comments on our social media, most offer us support and thanks.

The first year we tattooed mob was insane, overwhelming – and incredible! At 9am The Southern Warriors Motorcycle Club got tattooed and we stood tall with our Aboriginal community on Gertrude Street to send them off to rally in the CBD. What an honour.

Mob show up to Roxxi’s to get tattooed on Invasion Day. The first year we stayed open until 1am: conversations were had, tears were shed, hugs were shared.

If you are First Nations person  - see you on so called Australian Day. What we refer to as Invasion Day. 

Always Was – Always Will Be – Aboriginal Land