Byron Community and Cultural Centre
An award-winning venue in the heart of Byron Bay
Just a short walk from Byron’s lively cafes,
accommodation and fabulous beaches.
Phone (02) 6685 5659 for credit card purchases or
call into the Centre between 10.00am and 4.00pm week days.
Byron Community & Cultural Centre
69 Jonson Street
PO Box 309 Byron Bay NSW 2481
General enquiries: (02) 6685 6807
Venue & box office: (02) 6685 5659 Fax: (02) 6685 7830
email: bbcc@mullum.com.au
About the Centre
Completed in late 2002, the Byron Community and Cultural Centre is a wonderful new venue in the heart of Byron Bay.
A multi-purpose facility with a 246-seat theatre and three other spaces for hire, the Centre hosts a great variety of activities including performing arts events, exhibitions, conferences, seminars, receptions and functions.
It also accommodates the Northern Rivers Writers’ Centre, Bay FM Community Radio, Adult Community Education (ACE), Planet Corroboree (an Aboriginal art and craft shop) and Fundamentals (a natural health store).
The Centre is owned and managed by the Byron Bay Community Association, a not-for-profit incorporated Association. It is almost entirely self-funded.
The
Centre plays a major community development function in the Byron shire.
Over 20 years it has established many community services, helping create
over 50 jobs and bringing in over $10 million to the local community.
Awards
1995:
North Coast Tourism Award
1997:
National Community Link Award
1997: Neighbourhood Centre of the Year
1997: Excellence in Training by a Small Business
1999: Community Link Award
2003: Dolphin award for best venue
A short history
Initially established as
the Mechanics Institute and renamed the School of Arts, the Byron Community
and Cultural Centre was erected on specially designated land in 1895.
By 1904 the building was not large enough to accommodate its many activities,
so a “more commodious” School of Arts was built in 1907 with the help
of a $1,000 mortgage.
The new building became the focal point of the town, home to a library, balls, roller skating, weekly dances, meetings, billiards, a physical club, polling booths, films and other entertainment. In 1913 it was renamed the Byron Bay Literary Institute.
By 1980, the building had fallen into a state of serious disrepair and the Literary Institute trustees faced the tough decision of restoring, rebuilding or selling it. The community raised funds to repair the building, which opened as the Byron Bay Community Centre in 1981. Once again, the community used the Centre for myriad activities, with a new emphasis on programs for young people and support for disadvantaged people.
Despite the restoration, the building remained dilapidated. After almost 20 years of fundraising and with support from many wonderful sponsors the new Centre opened in late 2002.
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