Chamber Chats Oct 2025

Spring Creativity and Seasonal Opportunity

Spring is well and truly in the air, and with it comes a burst of colour, creativity, and renewed energy across the village. It’s a good time for local businesses to have a spring clean—physically, mentally, and strategically. With the days growing longer and warmer, we’re seeing more people out and about, which makes now the perfect moment to refine your offering, get ready for the tourist season, and reconnect with both regulars and newcomers.

Events and Cultural Highlights

The Spring Arts and Crafts Exhibition, currently open daily from 10am to 4pm at the Nimbin Town Hall until October 12, is a stunning reminder of how alive and thriving Nimbin’s creative spirit is. It showcases some of the finest artistic talent from Nimbin and the Northern Rivers region.

Several fantastic events were also held over the past month, reinforcing Nimbin’s reputation as a vibrant cultural village.

Marty De Weerd Art

The Nimbin A&I Show brought colour and community to the showgrounds, it is not so often that the carnival equipment rolls into town much to the delight of youth and young at heart. The show is both a valuable reminder of the value of our agricultural roots and provides connection to country living for our visitors.

Adding even more flavor to the weekend, the Nimbin Town Hall hosted 'Two Plays and Canapés', an evening of theatre featuring the romantic comedy Chop Chop and the supernatural romance Blood Moon. A big shoutout to Mussy and his dedicated crew for a fabulous night of local performance.

'Sonic Bloom', our solstice dance party series, drew a strong crowd of around 250 people and featured five local DJs, dazzling lighting, a high-end sound system, fire dancers, and costume flair.

Friday night movie screenings at the Nimbin Bush Theatre—an ongoing cultural staple in the village that celebrates cult classics and community cinema. These events offer unique experiences for locals and visitors alike, while also contributing to a thriving local economy.

Across all these events, there’s a noticeable uptick in spending across food, fuel, dining, and retail. Each gathering injects valuable energy and income into our village and reinforces how interconnected our creative and economic life really is.

Nimbin Bowling Club Update

An important update comes from the Nimbin Bowling Club, where a new committee had formed to revitalise the venue. Sadly, the current licensee and secretary has recently stepped down, which means the anticipated reopening will not proceed until a new licensee steps forward. If there are any retired publicans or qualified individuals in the area interested in stepping into the role, we encourage you to reach out.

Summerland Bank Amalgamation 

Summerland Bank announced their plans to amalgamate with Regional Australia Bank . The community session at the Nimbin Bush Theatre outlined future directions and goals an informative gathering attended by staff locals and stakeholders. The member vote is scheduled for November 2025, at the respective AGMs. If approved, the legal merger is expected to take effect 1 July 2026.

Road Recovery Works by CMC Contractors

On the infrastructure front, CMC Contractors have been awarded the Road Recovery Program for our region. This significant undertaking is expected to bring 50 to 100 personnel into the area, with flow-on benefits across accommodation, hospitality, and other local services. It’s a welcome economic boost for the village as these workers support our food outlets, cafes, fuel stations, and retail offerings.

Market Support and Artisan Promotion

Meanwhile, the Chamber continues to support the Nimbin Markets, with initiatives underway to refresh signage and bolster promotion. Wick and Rain from Aether Agency have been instrumental in this work, helping to highlight the contributions of our artisans and makers. In addition to the iconic fourth and fifth Sunday community markets, don’t forget the weekly Wednesday afternoon Farmers Market—a vital part of our village economy and food security.

4th & 5th Sunday of the month - Nimbin Markets

Collaborating on Economic Insights

The Chamber has been collaborating with the Lismore City Council’s Economic Development Team to review Commonwealth Bank’s analytical data, which shows business segment spending in Nimbin. This data helps identify patterns and sources of economic activity, such as the origins of visitors' spending. The data is entirely anonymous, with no personal information included—only aggregate spend by business category. Once our review is complete, we will make this information available to local businesses for consideration, so they can determine the most useful and appropriate format in which it should be shared.

Looking Ahead

As we move further into spring, the sense of momentum in the village is undeniable. Whether it’s through art, music, markets, or meaningful conversations, Nimbin continues to thrive because of the passion and resilience of its people. Let’s keep building on that energy—supporting one another, welcoming visitors, and showcasing the best of what our village has to offer. Here’s to a vibrant season ahead, filled with creativity, collaboration, and connection. — David Hyett,

President, Nimbin Chamber of Commerce