By Diana Roberts, published in Nimbin Good Times
A few weeks ago, I finally did something I’d been meaning to do for months – I started volunteering one day a week at the Aquarius Archives.
My plan was simple (or so I thought): spend some quiet time there while working on my memoir of “Nimbin things”. I imagined myself tapping away at my notes, drawing on the inspiration of the past.
Well, that was wishful thinking! Within hours I realised the archives are an entire world of their own – and I could happily lose a lifetime in their depths.
Instead of writing, I found myself diving headfirst into boxes of documents, old newsletters and yellowed minutes that tell the story of Nimbin’s post-Aquarius evolution.
Much of my time so far has been spent alongside a wonderful crew of dedicated volunteers, all of us surrounded by the energy of the Nimbin Community Centre, where the archives live.
Lately, I’ve been working my way through the Pan Community Council (PanCom) files – and what a trip down memory lane that has been!
PanCom was originally created to bring together local communities, sharing skills and ideas to strengthen the region’s co-operative spirit. Those early days were filled with optimism and creativity.
Before long, PanCom evolved into a strong lobby and advocacy group, especially as the concept of multiple occupancy – that defining feature of our region’s alternative lifestyle – came under pressure from both Council and the NSW Government.
Pan Community Council (Pan Com) was formed in 1987 with the primary aim of promoting social interaction between communities; assisting in dealings with councils and government bodies; fostering sustainable economic initiatives; and protecting the environment.
Pan Com produces a newsletter, holds community meetings, lobbies the Government and its Departments and issues media statements on policy matters. It produced a model MO Development Control Plan for use by Councils as an aid in the implementation of the former SEPP-15.
A great deal of this material comes from the tireless work of Peter Hamilton, who dedicated decades to documenting this vibrant history.
It feels deeply personal to be cataloguing these treasures, preserving memories that might otherwise fade away.
The hardest part? Deciding what’s “archival gold” and what isn’t. The Aquarius Archives office is stacked floor to ceiling with boxes – sometimes it feels like if we didn’t resurface for a week, no-one would notice (and we’d still be sorting happily!).
Recently, we had a visit from the Northern Rivers Community Foundation, who have provided funding support and came to see how the archives are progressing. Their interest and encouragement gave us a real boost – it’s heartening to know this work is valued beyond our little office.
The Aquarius Archives are open every Friday from 11am to 3pm in the former Community Centre office in the Acacia Building, fronting Cullen Street. If you’d like to volunteer, or just drop by to see the enormity of the task – and the magic – of preserving Nimbin’s living history, please come and say hello.
