The venue is a beautiful bush sanctuary developed by artist & environmentalist Tamara Kirby.
167 is nestled in the Noosa hinterland, on the outskirts of the small township of Cooran, 25 mins from the coast. Life-long project of artist and environmentalist Tamara Kirby, the property is a creative and environmental sanctuary comprised of 15 acres of bushland, regenerated over the past 20 years from an old dairy farm. The property is classified as Land for Wildlife and provides a place for nature and humans to respectively co-exist, within the embrace of organic and Permaculture principles. Over the initial years, Tamara was an active member of a local team determined to reforest the Falls Creek valley where 167 is located. One hundred years ago the valley boasted the largest stand of red cedar trees in Queensland. Timber millers moved in and did a good job of culling the entire valley. With the land cleared, dairy farms and mono crops flourished…Now one hundred years on we see many parts of the valley becoming rich and vibrantly alive once more, with substantial stands of native forest and wildlife corridors criss-crossing the paddocks, leading up to the National Park on the northern ridge.
Over the last few years a new creative team of volunteers have joined Tamara in her long term vision, to provide a distinctive space as the catalyst to combine contemporary art practices with nature. The land now continues to be developed as a unique retreat for visual artists, performers, writers and environmentalists to share and develop creative practice and conversation, providing a haven and escape from busy city life.
The land is situated in a valley flanked by an extinct volcano core and bordered by a National Park. There is a dam suitable for swimming, a meandering creek, and skirting one boundary is the Noosa Walking/Horse riding/Cycling Trail. The main house offers semi-outdoor living with a large adjoining art studio. Handmade dwellings and funky retro-refitted caravans dot the property, giving a creative and colourful feel to the space.
Studio 167 