FRESH GROWTH, OLD ROOTS The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 41 #12 • September 2, 2026 • www.echo.net.au
Celebrating 120 years of the Billi Pub Aslan Shand The Billinudgel Pub has stood its ground through floods, fires and more for the last 120 years and the unveiling of three recreated historic mirrors on the front verandah last Friday kicked off the celebrations. The current pub was built in 1906 on the site of the former pub that had been built in 1898 (when the railway came through), but then burnt down. ‘Ma Ring bought this in 1929 and it has been in the family ever since. I grew up upstairs,’ said Ma Ring’s grandson, and former publican, Kenny Barnham. Ma Ring’s poker skills, and plenty of wild nights, mean the Billinudgel has seen its fair share of history. Ma Ring remained licensee until she passed away at 101, just a few weeks before her 102nd birthday in 1983. ▶ Continued on page 2
Kenny and his son Jordan Barnham with signwriter and project coordinator Michael Hodgson. Front: framer Martin Johnson with Kenny’s granddaughter Magnolia, with mum Makenzie and dad Mitch Barnham. Photo Jeff ‘Lack Of Reflection’ Dawson
Can you help our Rainbow community find a permanent home? Paul Bibby For four years Queer Family Inc has lived the perilous life of a homeless community organisation – bouncing from one temporary venue to the next, sometimes without anywhere to stay at all. Now, they’ve come up with a possible solution that could finally allow them to regain stability in the Northern Rivers. All they need is a bit of space in
Save Wallum judgment handed down Monday ▶ p2
someone’s paddock. The Mullum-based LGBTQ+ group is hoping to secure land where it could establish a permanent community hub using a relocated flood buyback home or pod through the NSW Reconstruction Authority’s Homes Reuse Program.
No dwelling entitlement Importantly, Queer Family says it has been advised that the proposed community facility would
‘Waves Without Limits’ launches in Bruns ▶ p4
not require a dwelling entitlement. Aiden says subdivision rules for community facilities are also different to residential development, meaning the usual minimum lot-size requirements do not apply in the same way. That potentially opens the door to a much wider range of landowners, including people with smaller rural parcels who may previously have assumed their property was unsuitable.
Castaldi and a new film society for Murbah ▶ p13
‘There is so much land. There’s so much farmland. It doesn’t have to be in a town,’ Queer Family Director Aiden Gentle said. ‘Surely somebody has a paddock they don’t want to mow anymore.’ The organisation is primarily looking within Byron Shire, but says suitable land could also be considered a little further afield around places such as Newrybar, Tintenbar, Clunes, Stokers Siding, or Crabbes Creek.
The honeyeaters of Wallum ▶ p17
The organisation lost its Mullumbimby clubhouse in the 2022 floods and has spent the years since moving through a succession of temporary homes while continuing to provide programs and support for LGBTQ+ people across the Northern Rivers. Its most recent reprieve came when Byron Council agreed to provide a 12-month home at the former ▶ Continued on page 4
The Tweed: Valley to Coast ▶ p19
Our monthly roundup of the arts ▶ p24
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