Bobby Goldsmith Honoured With Blue Plaque On Oxford Street, Sydney
The Bobby Goldsmith Foundation has announced the unveiling of a Blue Plaque in honour of Bobby Goldsmith, one of the first Australians to die from an AIDS-related illness and namesake of Australia’s longest-running HIV charity.
The plaque has been installed outside Universal on Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, the site of the former Midnight Shift nightclub, where the first BGF fundraiser was held in 1984. This location holds deep significance for BGF and the broader LGBTQIA+ community, marking the place where a grassroots act of love and solidarity sparked a movement that continues to this day.
“Bobby Goldsmith’s friends, especially his partner Ken, were instrumental in transforming care for people living with HIV/AIDS,” said Nick Lawson, CEO of Bobby Goldsmith Foundation.
“The foundation they created remains a tribute to their love and compassion. We nominated Bobby to honour the enduring legacy they built in his name, one that continues to uplift and support people living with HIV today.”
In his final weeks, Bobby’s friends came together to ensure he could remain at home, surrounded by love and treated with dignity. That act of compassion led to the formation of the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation, which has supported thousands of people living with HIV for over 40 years.
The Blue Plaques program, delivered by the NSW Government, celebrates individuals who have made a lasting impact on the state’s history and culture. Bobby’s plaque not only commemorates his life, but also the powerful community response that followed a legacy of care, courage, and advocacy.
Today, BGF continues to provide practical, emotional, and financial support to people living with HIV and has expanded its services to include disability support, particularly for the LGBTQIA+ community and others seeking inclusive, person-centred care.
The unveiling of the plaque is a celebration of Bobby’s memory and a reminder of the enduring power of community.
For more information or to support the foundation’s work go to Bobby Goldsmith Foundation.
About BGF.
Bobby Goldsmith was one of the first Australians to die from an AIDS-related illness in 1984. In his final weeks, his friends came together to ensure he could remain at home, surrounded by love and treated with dignity. He died at home, just as he wished, cared for with compassion by the people who loved him.
From that act of love, Bobby Goldsmith Foundation was formed. His friends set a powerful precedent – if support could be provided for one person, it could be done for many. We are the legacy of that dedicated group of friends.
For more than 40 years, BGF has been a lifeline for people living with HIV, providing practical, emotional, and financial support to help them live well and independently. We remain the only community-based organisation in Australia solely focused on delivering frontline services to people living with HIV.
BGF has since expanded its services to include disability support, particularly for the LGBTQIA+ community and others seeking inclusive, progressive, person-centred care. We are a registered NDIS provider, accredited under the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA)
