Denis – Hannah Robinson

Recently I befriended some squatters who live in an abandoned building near my house. The Empire Hotel is situated on the main street of Newcastle NSW. The building is burnt out, full of asbestos and waste.

One of the characters I met was the lovable rogue ‘Pops’. He is a multifaceted character, charming, funny, and mysterious. He has so many stories from a life lived in the shadows of society. He has been living on the streets for over 40 years, looking after many of the homeless men since they were kids first on the street.

A family – like bond is shared by the group who occupy this squat. It is a warmth from the darkness greater than that which the walls provide. There are shocking moments but they are coupled with humor, mate-ship, and tenderness. They are an intimate reflection of a heavily misunderstood subculture that exists at the end of my street.