In February 2000 people started living in empty South Sydney City Council-owned buildings on Broadway close to the centre of Sydney. Residents cleaned up the places, made them habitable and created a cafe, art gallery and more. On 23rd August 2000, just before the Sydney Olympics, the squatters were discovered. From that point onwards the Council attempted to evict the squatters. The Broadway squats were the first squats in some time to be open about their autonomous occupation.