Bowraville's History celebrated in the Freedom Ride Blue Plaque Trail

Bowraville has officially joined the 1965 Freedom Ride Blue Plaque Trail, becoming the eighth location in NSW to be recognised for its place in this important chapter of Australian history.

Around 50 community members gathered at the historic Bowraville Theatre on 24 August for the unveiling of the commemorative plaque, honouring the courage of the Freedom Riders and pays respect to the Aboriginal communities who experienced discrimination.

The 1965 Freedom Ride, led by university students including Charles Perkins, travelled through regional NSW to expose and challenge racial discrimination against Aboriginal people. The journey became a defining moment in Australia’s civil rights history.

The Bowraville plaque honours the protest against discrimination towards Aboriginal people and the historic significance of the movement for civil rights, inclusivity and social change.

Bowraville now sits alongside Sydney, Dubbo, Gulargambone, Walgett, Moree, Boggabilla and Kempsey on the Freedom Ride Blue Plaque Trail — providing visitors with an opportunity to learn more about this powerful story and the ongoing journey towards reconciliation.

Head down to the Bowraville Theatre and scan the QR code to learn more.

New Visitor Destination Guide

We're kicking off something exciting:

A New Destination Guide for the Nambucca Valley! 
We are contracting a design agency, to create this new resource. We need to create an image bank, showcasing what makes this place worth going deeper into.

And we would love to include you! 

If you are a local tourism provider or run a local business and have professional, high-resolution photos that capture what you do, we'd welcome the chance to consider them for the guide. Think images that show your space, your product, or your people at their best.

To be considered, simply email your photos to tourism@nambucca.nsw.gov.au

Got a lot of images or large files? You're welcome to send us a Dropbox (or similar) download link instead of attaching them directly.

A few things to keep in mind:

• High resolution only (print quality, not phone snapshots)
• Please include a short line on what's pictured and who took the photo.
• Please confirm in writing that you hold the copyright to the image (or have the photographer's permission) and are able to grant us the right to reproduce it in the guide.
• We'd love to credit the photographer wherever the image is used — just let us know the name to include.
• Local photographers and Artist are welcome to submit images.
• Agency will have final selection of photos featured based their creative process. 
• Submission deadline: 10th of September 2026 

We can't guarantee every image will make the cut, but we're keen to see what you've got. The Valley's story is best told through the people already living it.

Shop Local in October

The Nambucca Valley Shop Local campaign, running this October, is a great opportunity for businesses to showcase their products and services while encouraging residents to support the local economy. Get involved by promoting the campaign through your business, engaging with customers and helping build a stronger, more connected local business community.

You can find out more about the ways to get involved and resources that will be available here:

New Signage and Wayfinding Strategy

Nambucca Valley Council is developing a new Signage and Wayfinding Strategy to improve navigation, visitor experiences and the presentation of the region, while helping promote local attractions and services across the Valley. Community members are encouraged to have their say through the online survey, which is open until 27 September 2026, and at upcoming community engagement sessions.

Major Events

Sponsorship Grants Open

Nambucca Valley Council’s Major Event Sponsorship Grant Program is now open, providing funding of up to $10,000 for established major events and up to $5,000 for emerging events that attract visitors, boost overnight stays and support local economic activity. Applications close on 28 September 2026, with funding available for events that showcase the region, activate local spaces and strengthen the Nambucca Valley’s visitor economy:

Infrastructure & Equipment Grants:

Live Music

Dedicated live music venues across NSW can apply for grants of up to $150,000 for equipment and infrastructure upgrades, or up to $300,000 for high-end audiovisual and advanced lighting technology to enhance audience experiences and venue capability. Expressions of interest are now open and close on 28 September 2026, with the program designed to support more accessible, sustainable and fit-for-purpose live music venues across the state

Advise & Planning: Live Music

If you would like us to work in partnership with you to promote our stunning location, special offers, or upcoming events in the valley across our social networks, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact Erica Foley at Erica.Foley@nambucca.nsw.gov.au to discuss partnership opportunities and how we can help share your message with our audience.

#discovernambuccavalley

Let's get social!
Follow us at @discovernambuccavalley
or visit www.nambuccavalley.com.au