The first Freedom Ride took place in New South Wales in February 1965. It was organised by the Student Action for Aborigines and was led by Charles Perkins, an Aboriginal activist and later the first Aboriginal person to graduate from the University of Sydney. The ride travelled to towns in the state's north and west, where it was met with hostility from some white residents.
After the first ride, the Freedom Riders formed the Freedom Riders Council to organise further rides. Rides were later held in Queensland, South Australia, and Victoria. The rides were successful in raising awareness of Indigenous discrimination, but also led to some violent clashes between the riders and white residents.
The Freedom Rides had a significant impact on the Australian civil rights movement. They helped to galvanise the Indigenous community and led to the establishment of a number of Indigenous rights organisations. The rides also contributed to the Whitlam Labor government's decision to introduce a number of reforms to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians, such as the Aboriginal Land Rights Act.
In 2005, the Australian Freedom Riders were inducted into the National Film and Sound Archive's Sound of Australia Hall of Fame.