Members of the Nimbin community have expressed concern about the New South Wales Government’s decision to close two of Australia’s most iconic tourist attractions: the Nimbin HEMP Bar and Museum.

According to Michael Balderstone, the President of the Nimbin Hemp Museum (pictured), letters from the NSW Crown Solicitor’s Office have been issued to the landlords of Nimbin’s two biggest tourist icons, saying tenants of the businesses must be evicted. Police have previously applied for the dual closures based on allegations that drugs were being supplied from the businesses.  

In raids on the Hemp Bar bar and the museum in April, police allegedly seized about 4kg of cannabis and charged a number of people with drug offences.   

Then in May, police successfully obtained a court order in Lismore Local Court to close the Hemp Bar and the Nimbin Museum on the weekend of May 3-6, to coincide with the annual Mardi Grass festival, typically the busiest weekend of the year in the township.  

The letters were written on August 25 and hand delivered to the landlords of the Museum and HEMP Bar, giving them only a couple of days to act.

The President of the Hemp Museum, Michael Balderstone, says it’s extremely disappointing the Police have chosen this direction.

“The illegal trade of cannabis is a dominant force in Nimbin and as we saw during the latest Mardigrass, closing the HEMP Bar and Museum will do little to help.

“It will, however, have a big impact on Nimbin’s international tourist reputation and daily visitation,” he added.

He described the potential closure of the HEMP Bar as the end of an era. “This bar evolved into a cannabis activist information portal… it occupies a unique position in Australian Internet History, truly one of earths most enduring and loved websites,” said Michael.

The HEMP Bar has succumbed the battle and will formally end its 8 year live protest at 4.20 Friday afternoon.

“They’re doing this with no consultation and not really dealing with the issue which is causing the problems.

“The Museum will be a real loss to a lot of people. It is the nearest thing to a home many have and certainly means a lot to many as a daily meeting place.

He hopes to negotiate with police to keep the Museum alive, attending Lismore District Court tomorrow at 9:30am to fight the closure of the Museum on behalf of the Museum’s Sydney-based landlord.

“The landlord won’t take my calls, I doubt he’ll be going to court in Lismore tomorrow… he may send his solicitor. I’m just going to have a say I don’t think they’ll listen though,” said Michael.

Police say the court order is part of a plan to stamp out drugs in Nimbin.   

Michael says the closure of the Hemp Museum will push the drug dealing and use onto the streets.

If you want to read more about this, visit  www.nimbinhempbar.com

Posted: Thursday August 28, 2008