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Byron Shire
July 15, 2026

Margaret Olley Centre taking shape

Latest News

Renewables and battery storage stable amid global uncertainty

Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, in partnership with the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) today released the GenCost 2025–26 Final Report, finding renewable energy supported by storage is helping to protect Australia against global energy shocks and continues to provide the lowest cost pathway for Australia’s electricity system to achieve net zero emissions.

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NSW Women of the Year nominations closing soon

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A Ballina Greens councillor is calling on the government agencies to act immediately over claims that native clearing is occurring on a private property in Lennox Head.

Art exhibition inspired by nature

Elemental: Conversations with Nature is an exhibition bringing together a group of local artists who present their work for community enjoyment in one of the Shire’s many local halls – Coorabell Hall.

    Tweed Regional Gallery director Susi Muddiman, with some of the approximately 76,000 items that have been in storage since they were recorded and carefully removed from Olley’s Sydney home a year ago. Photo Jeff Dawson
Tweed Regional Gallery director Susi Muddiman, with some of the approximately 76,000 items that have been in storage since they were recorded and carefully removed from Olley’s Sydney home a year ago. Photo Jeff Dawson

Construction of the Olley House, within the purpose-built Margaret Olley Art Centre extension of the Tweed River Art Gallery in Murwillumbah, has reached a stage where it is time to start relocating the collection items across from their storage site.

The aim is to create an exact reproduction of Olley’s famous Paddington home.

The $4 million Margaret Olley Art Centre is due to be officially opened next month (March).

Last month, Ballina gallery coordinator Ingrid Hedgcock was appointed as the first curator and collections manager of the new centre.

Newly-appointed curator and collections manager for the Margaret Olley Art Centre, Ingrid Hedgcock. Photo supplied
Newly-appointed curator and collections manager for the Margaret Olley Art Centre, Ingrid Hedgcock. Photo supplied

Ms Hedgcock will begin her new role next month, after working as the coordinator of the Northern Rivers Community Gallery in Ballina since 2010.

Ms Muddiman said, ‘Ingrid has achieved wonderful things during her time at the Ballina gallery, displaying many qualities that will make her a fantastic addition to the Gallery team’.

Ms Hedgcock began her career at the Brett Whiteley Studio in Sydney and has since worked as public programs manager at the Ipswich Art Gallery and education officer at the Museum of Sydney.

She said she was thrilled at the prospect of working with the Olley collection.

The Margaret Olley Art Centre is being built as an extension of the Tweed Regional Gallery in Murwillumbah to celebrate the art and legacy of the late artist, who attended school in Murwillumbah and went on to be an icon of the Australian art scene.

The centre recreates Margaret Olley’s studio, elements of her home in Paddington and part of her invaluable collection, providing an insight into the life of one of the country’s most acclaimed and beloved artists.



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Lismore Boulevard Project announced

Design concept plans for the Lismore Boulevard – Shared User Path project are now available for community consultation, following Lismore City Council securing $2,383,030 in funding through the NSW Government’s Get NSW Active 2025–2026 program, administered by Transport for NSW (TfNSW).

Community responds to detention dams proposal

More than 110 residents gathered at Rock Valley Hall on Sunday 12 July and rejected claims that the recently released CSIRO report on flood mitigation was informed by strong community consultation.

Data shows biggest danger to wildlife is people, not cats

Human-created hazards are responsible for most wildlife rescues in New South Wales, and researchers are calling for more prevention strategies to save threatened species.

Try pickleball and support a great cause

Northern Rivers Pickleball Club are holding a marathon day of pickleball on Sunday, 19 July at the Goonellabah Tennis and Pickleball Club on Reserve Street, Goonellabah.