history + heritage

'A FEW INTREPID SOULS STAYED ON TO LIVE THE DREAMS'

The word Nimbin comes from the legend of the Nyimbunji (clever man) of the original local Widjabul Wia-bal people. Referred to as ‘The Big Scrub’ by early Europeans, like most of Northern NSW, the area was originally covered by lush subtropical rainforest and sclerophyll eucalypt forests.

Following the pathways of the original custodians, early European settlers came into the Nimbin valley for timber-getting from the 1840s. The area was first subdivided in 1903 and gazetted in 1906. Following land clearing for timber, Nimbin became a thriving dairy and banana farming district and a bustling village within a decade.

With the later downturn in the dairy industry, many shops became empty, and the village was in decline when locals approved the proposal by the Australian Union of Students to hold the Aquarius Festival in 1973. The village was reinvigorated with an influx of new settlers following the festival, seeking to build a new alternative lifestyle away from the city. A few decades later, Nimbin has become known internationally for its alternative culture and has attracted visitors ever since.

the aquarius festival

In 1973, Nimbin transformed from a dairying community in decline into the counterculture capital of Australia. Organised by the Australian Union of Students, the Aquarius Festival was a ten-day event that attracted over 10,000 people and celebrated everything alternative and sustainable. It also marked the first time in Australia’s history that traditional Aboriginal landowners were asked permission to use their land for an event.

Nimbin was chosen as a location for the festival as it was removed from the structures in society that the organisers had previously been protesting. Student and counter cultural activists, conservationists, healers, architects, engineers, Indigenous people, land rights’ activists, gurus, and creative artists gathered at the lifestyle festival. The festival was one of the first times in Australia where indigenous custodianship was acknowledged with organisers seeking approval from local Bunjalung Elders before proceeding, attracting a significant Indigenous gathering as a result.

After the festival, many of the attendees decided to stay in Nimbin and practice alternative lifestyles. Known as ‘Aquarians’, these new residents formed self-sustainable communes, started permaculture farms, opened holistic shops and even lobbied the NSW government to introduce legislation protecting the surrounding rainforests.

Nimbin’s sister city is, appropriately, Woodstock in New York State, USA.

To experience the Aquarius Festival through the stories of festivalgoers' check out the Nimbin Soundtrail.

Nimbin was chosen as a location for the festival as it was removed from the structures in society that the organisers had previously been protesting against. The festival was to create and provide direction for the future. Whitlam had been elected and conscription to the Vietnam War had ended. Student and counter cultural activists, conservationists, healers, architects, engineers, indigenous people for land rights, alternative media and gurus and creative artists gathered at the lifestyle festival. Several buildings in the town were bought by the Australian Union of Students, including the Tomato Sauce  building, currently the Hemp embassy, the Rainbow Café and Birth and Beyond, (Now the Apothecary, formerly the RSL)

After the festival, the first multiple occupancy community was created at Tuntable Falls. Several years later, campaigns to stop logging of the rainforest resulted in the declaration of the Nightcap National Park. The lifestyle festival and the era that followed gave the new settlers a sense of belonging in the community. The festival was one of the first times in Australia where indigenous custodianship was acknowledged, organisers originally seeking approval from local Bunjalung Elders before proceeding.

Nimbin’s sister city is appropriately Woodstock in New York State USA.

To experience the Aquarius Festival through the stories of festivalgoers' check out the Nimbin Soundtrail.

tree changers

During 1979 the Terania Creek campaign to stop logging took place. This was the first environmental protest of its type using blockades in the attempt to save the forest. Nan and Hugh Nicholson had spent several years of letter writing and lobbying previous to this action. A protest camp was established on their property, and through direct action which attracted media attention, the logging had ceased within 4 weeks!

In 1982 trouble stirred again with the formation of the Nightcap Action Group to stop the selective logging of forests on the Nightcap Range at Mount Nardi. Hugh and Nan were back, and a whole lot more ‘greenies’. Miraculously within four months of blockades and struggle, the area was declared National Park, and given World Heritage status in 1989.

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