Nimbin is famous world-over for its colourful main street art and shop-front murals, new age/alternative creations that symbolise the rural renaissance of the local community following the 1973 Aquarius Festival. This outstanding and unique mural streetscape is core to the Nimbin heritage conservation area.
In the lead up to the Aquarius Festival the late Vernon Treweeke, an Australian psychedelic artist, came up with the original idea to 'paint up' the village of Nimbin. Festival organisers Graeme Dunstan and Johnny Allen assisted in the project seeking permission from the local shopkeepers and building owners. The Rainbow Cafe was the first facade painted by Vernon and featured rainbow stars. This inspired many other artisans, among them Lindsay Burke and Dick Weight, who spread the 'rainbow' theme to neighbouring village buildings. The RSL, purchased by the Aquarius team, became the Festival’s Media Centre and was painted up with a large Union Jack flag. Initiated by Graeme Dunstan, this was the first façade to be painted for the Festival.
It was later replaced by a blessed healing Buddha mural with mandalas of the sun and moon, created by John Seed, installed on either side. In 1978 the front door of the media centre was painted with the finest brush strokes by Frank de Rambelje and remains a valued village icon to this day. The Tomato Sauce building, converted from a general store to a food co-op during the Festival, was painted by Vernon with the famed tomato explosion. The plumber’s shop became the Learning Exchange with a mural of flying saucers painted on it by “Peter Painter”.
In 1977 a mural project to refresh the deteriorating facades was facilitated by Graeme Dunstan in his role as director of the Lismore Arts Festival. This project saw Benny Zable paint a whole new sequence of murals aimed at uniting the facades with rainbows and “zany” bubbles, while promoting the significance of the Nimbin rainbow region culture. In 1978 Graeme invited Rolf Harris to weave a mural story at the Nimbin Town Hall while children looked on and gave instructions. The mural was removed from the Town Hall in 1990 and a section, rescued from going to the tip, was installed in Rainbow Lane. This and several iconic murals were later destroyed in the disastrous village fire of 2014.
The murals have a rich and ever-evolving history, a story contributed to by many local artists. Significant importance is placed on murals created by our First Nation’s people with major contributions over time from Burri Jerome, Gilbert Laurie, Oral Roberts, Lewis Walker, Alan Barker (Black Al) and Herbie Roberts.
The Nimbin community's commitment to its arts, country and culture is permanently on public display. Its street art enriches the lives of residents and visitors alike, promoting cultural and economic development by attracting Australian and overseas visitors, while providing the community with a visual vehicle to promote issues and values of importance.
To this end, supporting the evolution of vibrant street art and village beautification is a priority for the Nimbin Chamber of Commerce, working alongside local organisations, businesses, and artists, to revitalise and add to the colourful and iconic village streetscape.
Murals don’t last forever and their contribution to the streetscape requires constant maintenance and management as new works are created or fading ones restored. To support the Chamber’s contributions to this community endeavour we have donation tins located in businesses throughout the village. Please consider dropping your lose change into these tins.
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