The tent embassy on The Block in Redfern started with a single tent on May 26, 2014 in response to plans by the Aboriginal Housing Company (AHC) to pursue a commercial development on the site.

The camp site, bordered by Eveleigh, Vine, Louis and Caroline streets, has expanded to a small village of tents lined up in ordered rows around a campfire and communal kitchen. Two portable toilets service the camp residents.

The protesters believe the not-for-profit AHC should be providing community housing for local Indigenous people first.

The elder

Elder Jenny Munro at the tent embassy

Jenny Munro, 59, from Erambie is a Wiradjuri woman who has been at the tent embassy from day one - Sorry Day, May 26.

Ms Munro began her activist life camping at the 1972 tent embassy in Canberra.

"This is Aboriginal Housing Company, not Micky Mundine's Housing Company," said the elder.

"This is about black housing on black land, there will be no commercial development ... before this issue is dealt with."

The nightwatchman

Nightwatchman Joe Miles

Joe Miles, 44, grew up on The Block.

A Murri man, he arrived at the embassy in the two days after the protest began.

"I was taking a Lebanese mate to see the flag when I saw the tents.

"I've seen heaps of changes here - all for the worse.

"We're all going to stay until we get black houses built."

Mr Miles proudly dons his hi-vis jacket each evening and acts as the camp nightwatchman.

The visitor

Visitor Tepora Stephens at the tent embassy

Tepora Stephens, 46, from Carringbah is a Maori woman who has lived in Australia for 21 years.

Ms Stephens arrived onsite on July 26 and is "staying till the end".

She resigned from her role at Job Services Australia to support the protest.

"We [Maoris] have experienced what Aunty Jenny is fighting for," she said.

"My decision was made from a wealth of wisdom gained from witnessing past struggles."

The new arrival

The newcomer Michelle O'Hara at the tent embassy

Michelle O'Hara, 40, from Lane Cove arrived at the embassy last week.

She learned of her Aboriginal ancestry when she was 17 years old.

Her paternal grandmother grew up in a Maitland orphanage, and revealed on her deathbed that she was an Indigenous Australian and a member of the stolen generation.

"I'm proud, my children our proud, and we'd like to know more [about our heritage]."

Ms O'Hara spends her days doing grocery runs and raising signatures for the petition.

Development funding for low-income housing is yet to be found

AHC chief executive Mick Mundine said the protester's demands were being met.

"As part of the [development] approval on the land they call The Block, we are building 62 affordable housing [units]," he said, asserting that the campaigners were just "squatters".

"The reason we are building commercially is to subsidise what we lose on affordable housing."

Development funding for low-income housing solutions is yet to be found.

While Mr Mundine agreed with the need for community housing for Indigenous Australians, he said he saw no need to talk to the protesters.

"If they want to sit there, they can sit there as long as they like, we will carry on with our priorities."

The campers appear to be there for the long haul after surviving two cold winter months.