Mullumbimby

Byron Shire, including Mullumbimby and nearby [[Byron Bay, New South Wales|Byron Bay]], became a centre of alternative or counter culture alongside the extant mainstream culture in the 1970s and 1980s, and remains so today. The male choir Dustyesky performs Russian-language folk songs and received major coverage on the Russian television broadcaster [[Channel One Russia|Channel One]].[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-30/mullumbimby-choir-cracks-big-time-russia/8572406 "Vodka-swilling choir from Mullumbimby cracks the big time in Russia"] by Joanne Shoebridge and Samantha Turnbull, [[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]], 30 May 2017

Byron Shire, including Mullumbimby and nearby [[Byron Bay, New South Wales|Byron Bay]], became a centre of alternative or counter culture alongside the extant mainstream culture in the 1970s and 1980s, and remains so today. The male choir Dustyesky performs Russian-language folk songs and received major coverage on the Russian television broadcaster [[Channel One Russia|Channel One]].[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-30/mullumbimby-choir-cracks-big-time-russia/8572406 "Vodka-swilling choir from Mullumbimby cracks the big time in Russia"] by Joanne Shoebridge and Samantha Turnbull, [[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]], 30 May 2017

Once the most notable specimens of the valuable timber trees had been collected (most notably red cedar, but also [[Flindersia australis|Australian teak]], [[Araucaria cunninghamii|hoop pine]], [[Didymocheton fraserianus|Rosewood]], [[Grevillea robusta|silky oak]] and [[Castanospermum australe|black]] and [[Didymocheton muelleri|red bean]]), the Big Scrub timber trade collapsed and Mullumbimby became primarily a farming community. Like many areas of the [[Big Scrub]], allotments were given in Mullumbimby and the surrounding areas by the [[Government of New South Wales|New South Wales government]] on the condition that the owner cleared the land for agricultural use.{{cite web|url= https://bigscrubrainforest.org.au/?p=3615 |title=Big Scrub: A cleared landscape in transition back to forest?}} Beef and dairy, along with bananas and sugar cane have traditionally been the notable products of the area. However, the subdivision of many of the larger farms and the emergence of numerous small scale farmers has led to a higher diversity of products. A weekly farmers' market has been developed to exhibit local produce.{{cite web|url= http://www.mullumfarmersmarket.org.au |title=Mullumbimby Farmers Markets}}

Once the most notable specimens of the valuable timber trees had been collected (most notably red cedar, but also [[Flindersia australis|Australian teak]], [[Araucaria cunninghamii|hoop pine]], [[Didymocheton fraserianus|rosewood]], [[Grevillea robusta|silky oak]] and [[Castanospermum australe|black]] and [[Didymocheton muelleri|red bean]]), the Big Scrub timber trade collapsed and Mullumbimby became primarily a farming community. Like many areas of the [[Big Scrub]], allotments were given in Mullumbimby and the surrounding areas by the [[Government of New South Wales|New South Wales government]] on the condition that the owner cleared the land for agricultural use.{{cite web|url= https://bigscrubrainforest.org.au/?p=3615 |title=Big Scrub: A cleared landscape in transition back to forest?}} Beef and dairy, along with bananas and sugar cane have traditionally been the notable products of the area. However, the subdivision of many of the larger farms and the emergence of numerous small scale farmers has led to a higher diversity of products. A weekly farmers' market has been developed to exhibit local produce.{{cite web|url= http://www.mullumfarmersmarket.org.au |title=Mullumbimby Farmers Markets}}

A [[static inverter plant]] of [[HVDC]] [[Directlink]] is located at Laverty's Gap near Mullumbimby. This inverter plant was previously the site of a 288 kW [[hydroelectric power]] scheme that powered Mullumbimby, Byron Bay and [[Bangalow]] from 1926, using water from a [[weir]] in nearby [[Wilsons River|Wilsons Creek]].{{cite news| url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/New-South-Wales/Mullumbimby/2005/02/17/1108500197710.html | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | title=Mullumbimby | date=2004-02-08}}{{YouTube|S0RAryS8edo|Touring The Hydro – Mullumbimby's Heritage Power Station (1 of 6)}} The scheme was the fourth hydro electric power station in NSW and only the fifth on mainland Australia.{{cite web|url= http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=5060490 |title=Mullumbimby Hydro-electric Power Station Complex|date=22 October 2019}} Powering Mullumbimby for the first time in 1925, the scheme made Mullumbimby one of the first country towns in NSW to receive electricity. Although decommissioned in 1990, it is now of state heritage significance. The hydroelectric scheme was designed by [[William Corin]] (1867–1929).{{Cite Australian Dictionary of Biography |first=Arthur |last=Corbett |id2=corin-william-5782 |title=William Corin (1867–1929) |year=1981 |volume=8}} The site is being considered for [[pumped-storage hydroelectricity]].{{cite web|url= https://www.byronnews.com.au/news/pumped-about-hydro-in-mullum/3228463/ |title=Pumped about hydro in Mullum|publisher= Byron Shire News|date=27 September 2017 |access-date=28 September 2017}}{{cite web|url= https://www.echo.net.au/2017/09/pumped-storage-hydro-potential-mullumbimby/ |title=Pumped-storage hydro potential for Mullumbimby |date=28 September 2017|publisher=Echonetdaily |access-date=28 September 2017}}

A [[static inverter plant]] of [[HVDC]] [[Directlink]] is located at Laverty's Gap near Mullumbimby. This inverter plant was previously the site of a 288 kW [[hydroelectric power]] scheme that powered Mullumbimby, Byron Bay and [[Bangalow]] from 1926, using water from a [[weir]] in nearby [[Wilsons River|Wilsons Creek]].{{cite news| url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/New-South-Wales/Mullumbimby/2005/02/17/1108500197710.html | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | title=Mullumbimby | date=2004-02-08}}{{YouTube|S0RAryS8edo|Touring The Hydro – Mullumbimby's Heritage Power Station (1 of 6)}} The scheme was the fourth hydro electric power station in NSW and only the fifth on mainland Australia.{{cite web|url= http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=5060490 |title=Mullumbimby Hydro-electric Power Station Complex|date=22 October 2019}} Powering Mullumbimby for the first time in 1925, the scheme made Mullumbimby one of the first country towns in NSW to receive electricity. Although decommissioned in 1990, it is now of state heritage significance. The hydroelectric scheme was designed by [[William Corin]] (1867–1929).{{Cite Australian Dictionary of Biography |first=Arthur |last=Corbett |id2=corin-william-5782 |title=William Corin (1867–1929) |year=1981 |volume=8}} The site is being considered for [[pumped-storage hydroelectricity]].{{cite web|url= https://www.byronnews.com.au/news/pumped-about-hydro-in-mullum/3228463/ |title=Pumped about hydro in Mullum|publisher= Byron Shire News|date=27 September 2017 |access-date=28 September 2017}}{{cite web|url= https://www.echo.net.au/2017/09/pumped-storage-hydro-potential-mullumbimby/ |title=Pumped-storage hydro potential for Mullumbimby |date=28 September 2017|publisher=Echonetdaily |access-date=28 September 2017}}