A vibrant and alternative Place Plan driven by a proactive community.

Client: Lismore City Council

Partners: Vee Design

Nimbin is a small village with a big personality. Located in the Northern Rivers region, the village has a well-established reputation as the capital for alternative living in Australia.

Fourfold Studio, alongside landscape architect partners Vee Design, collaborated with Lismore City Council and the passionate community of Nimbin to create a shared vision for the future of the village. The production of a Place Plan was undertaken as a means to capture and record the aspirations and identity of locals, organising these inputs into a roadmap for the future use, activation and development within the village.

The team embarked on a series of collaborative community and school workshops, interviews with locals and traders, as well as online engagement to gain an authentic understanding of Nimbin’s ideas and opportunities from all members of the community. Locals demonstrated their eagerness to be involved, with great turnout at workshops and online feedback provided. Our research revealed a highly motivated, colourful, caring and supportive community who are committed to sustainable living and supporting each other.

The Place Plan outlines actions which are framed around three key placemaking principles: shape, activate and manage. The Plan allows for natural evolution, encouraging local actions from both community and Council whilst helping build focus for a shared vision within the Nimbin community.

Once a draft of the Place Plan had been developed, the team took it back to the community

We are excited to watch on as ideas captured with the Plan start to come to life!