Rainbow Temple’s future on the line amid Lismore City Council concerns

An icon of the Northern Rivers alternative community has drawn council attention for the wrong reasons. Now its owner is hoping his treasured temple can be saved.

A “cosmic” structure considered by many to be an icon of the Northern Rivers “rainbow region” has grabbed attention that could bring its downfall.

Lismore City Council is considering the future of the seven-storey Rainbow Temple, which has been built by owner Guy Feldmann on a Rosebank property over the past 40 years.

He bought the property for $6000 – starting with a $1000 deposit to the generous former owners – in 1977.

Inspired by “strong revelations about life” and having experienced a “sacred place” in California, Mr Feldmann felt compelled to build a structure “devoted to the journey of life on earth”.

“It was my realisation in 1970 that life was very sacred, however humanity was spoiling the nature of the earth and their own nature,” Mr Feldmann said.

The Rainbow Temple in Rosebank, NSW. Picture: Liana Boss

“It was about an opening up of a greater understanding of who and what we are as humanity on the planet, and our stronger connection with nature.

“It’s also about the awakening of consciousness to a higher degree.”

Mr Feldmann said the temple, the top tiers of which were built about three years ago, was just one of his great feats on the property.

“Through my exuberance of energy as I was younger – I couldn’t help myself and I explained to council it was merely out of a sense of exercise and adventure – that I ended up digging a 65m underground tunnel,” he said.

“Little did I know, that tunnel was going to become habitat for thousands of glow worms which makes it a fairytale adventure at night, and many microbats.”

Guy Feldmann at The Rainbow Temple, a towering structure on his property in Rosebank, inland from Byron Bay. Picture: Liana Boss

He said the council now wanted him to fill that tunnel in and to demolish the temple.

He maintains the Rainbow Temple has never operated as a business.

But it is open to the public and Mr Feldmann accepts nominal fees for travellers to stay and eat there.

He said any money leftover from food and supplies went back into the structure.

In his view, visitors to the temple are being welcomed into his home.

“I’m just seeing everyone who does turn up – and I’m not advertising to get them here – as family,” he said.

Some who’ve stayed there over the years have assisted him with parts of the build.

“Now council want to demolish the temple and they want to fill the tunnel in with concrete,” Mr Feldmann said.

He said he had been asked to obtain proof the building was structurally sound.

But that would come at a hefty price.

He said he had already spent thousands of dollars having geophysical engineers and geologists assess the tunnel, but that hadn’t been enough.

He estimates satisfying the council would cost more than $200,000.

He’s meanwhile seeking to have the temple heritage-listed.

“I couldn’t help myself; I had to finish it,” he said.

“I didn’t know I’d be going that high.

“I built spontaneously and it’s been a process of designing as I went.

“But it’s structurally strong and it should be approved.”

Guy Feldmann inside the upper levels of the Rainbow Temple. Picture: Liana Boss

He said he was thankful for the council’s “patience through the years”.

“But if this is the conclusion of their patience then unfortunately I’m being forced into a situation of defending what I created,” he said.

A Lismore City Council spokesman said the lower three floors of the towering building were approved in the 1990s.

He said the council’s staff were still investigating the matter and hadn’t made a final decision.

“The Rosebank Rainbow Temple vertical extensions are currently being investigated by council and no decision has been made with regard to the longevity of the additional floors,” the spokesman said.

“These building works were undertaken without the prior approval of council and require development consent.

“Council, as a matter of priority, has initially requested the owner provide a certificate of structural adequacy to ensure the building is structurally sound and not an endangerment to the owners, any occupants or visitors.”

A petition to save the building has amassed almost 4000 signatures and supporters have also launched a fundraising page to help Mr Feldmann satisfy the council.