About GondwanaGondwana SanctuaryGondwana Sanctuary is a residential community on 40 hectares of land at Tyagarah, near Byron Bay on the sub-tropical east coast of Australia. It is situated 2 km from Tyagarah beach with wonderful views of Cape Byron and Mount Warning. Gondwana Sanctuary is a strong vibrant community with a well-defined vision of community and spiritual life. We have regular meditations, working bees, community meals, and other community events. The community, and most, though not all, of the people living here are inspired by Osho. If you are inspired by Eastern spiritual traditions, meditation, permaculture, Papaji, sustainable development, bush regeneration, Amma, 5 Rythms, NVC, Watsu, gardening, John de Ruiter, vipassana, contact dance, yoga, or just long walks on the beach then you are likely to find people here who share your enthusiasm. All the dwellings at Gondwana Sanctuary lie on a ridge on the Prestons Road side (eastern side) of the Gondwana property. In the above satellite photograph, Prestons Lane is the road shown running vertically past the Gondwana Main House. Note that the road shown as Black Rock Road is now known as Grays Lane - this connects at its western end with the Pacific Highway. Grays Lane is subject to flooding, and on occasions Gondwana is cut off from the rest of the world for 3 or 4 days at a time. History of GondwanaGondwana Sanctuary has been in existence as a community since 1987 when our land site was bought from the Hancock family who had owned it for several generations. In 1988 the Byron Shire Council approved the land as a Multiple Occupancy development, and dwellings were subsequently built on each of the Multiple Occupancy blocks. For an account of our early history, see the History of Gondwana webpage. Byron BayByron Bay, the nearest town to Gondwana Sanctuary, is a popular seaside resort situated on the extreme eastern tip of mainland Australia. It is located just off the Pacific Highway, 800 kms north of Sydney, and 160 kms south of Brisbane. Byron Bay has a population of about 10,000 (and considerably more in the holiday season). Byron Shire, which consists of Byron Bay plus a number of other towns and villages, has a population of about 30,000. The average summer temperature is 27°C (84°F), and the average winter temperature 22°C (74°F). Average annual rainfall is about 1,700mm. Byron is an eclectic place with a great variety of local activities, and lifestyles from the hippie to the yuppie. There are many fine beaches, an unspoilt landscape, and numerous tourist activities in the area. The local Byron area is also well known for the healing arts, alternative therapies and for spiritual teachers of all kinds. For information about Byron, see the websites: Directions to Find GondwanaFor directions to Gondwana, and a map of the area, please see our Directions Page. Landcare and WildlifeGondwana is an active wildlife sanctuary having restored what was cattle pasture to a flourishing natural environment. There has been over the life of the community an extensive program of environmental repair and regeneration.The majority of the total land area is being progressively revegetated. See the Landcare and Wildlife Page for more information. There is a great deal of wildlife on Gondwana - mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, including a number of regionally significant and vulnerable species. Our wildlife includes koalas, wallabies, echidnas, flying foxes, bandicoots, and a wide variety of birdlife. Because of this extensive wildlife, cats, dogs and poisons are not permitted on Gondwana. Weekly Community MealA community meal (two or three course vegetarian) is held at Gondwana on most Wednesday evenings, starting at 6:30 pm in winter and 7:00 pm in summer. All friends of Gondwana Sanctuary are welcome to come. It is best to phone the Gondwana Community House on the day (phone number on Contacts Page), to check whether the community meal is happening. There is a nominal charge. Gondwana Sanctuary Ownership InformationThe Gondwana Sanctuary development was approved by Byron Shire Council in 1988 as a Multiple Occupancy development for 11 dwellings, one of which serves as our community centre. The title to the land is held by Gondwana Sanctuary Pty Ltd which retains ownership rights over all areas of the property. The shares of Gondwana Sanctuary Pty Ltd are owned by the owners of the 10 dwellings excluding the community centre dwelling. The dwellings are associated with dwelling sites of approximately 2,500 to 4,200 square metres which are clustered on a ridge at one end of the property. Eighty percent of the land, and the community centre complex are used communally. Decisions about the running of Gondwana are made by the resident Gondwana shareholders, and are codified in our company Constitution and in our bylaws. Currently there are 15 shareholders. Gondwana is currently in the process of conversion from a Multiple Occupancy development to a Community Title development, under which the common community land will consist of one land title and the site of each of the dwellings will each have its own land title. Although the formal constitution of the community will change under CT, the intention is that the community will retain its essential nature with the same vision and philosophy as at present. Accommodation at GondwanaTemporary accommodation for visitors is sometimes available at Gondwana's Community House. In general we try to reserve accommodation for people who share our inspirations and enthusiasms, as indicated above. Contact the Community House Manager if you are interested in staying here. Buying a House at GondwanaThe maximum permitted number of dwelling sites at Gondwana has now been reached. Very occasionally an existing dwelling site becomes available for purchase. The purchase of a site on Gondwana requires a three-month provisional residential period, and the agreement of the current community shareholders. At the present time there are no sites or dwellings for sale.  |
