Faith Bandler at celebrations after the 1967 referendum

On 27 May 1967 nearly 91 per cent of Australians voted ‘yes’ to change the constitution and legally recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as Australian citizens. The huge majority was a validation of 10 years of hard work by Aboriginal activists. The constitution was formally changed on 10 August that year. It was the first time the nation came together to show overwhelming support for Indigenous people, and the first time Aboriginal people were able to mobilise the non-Indigenous population to make that happen.

This photograph was taken at post-referendum celebrations held in June of 1967.