New twist in Guy Feldmann’s battle with Lismore City Council over Byron Bay Rainbow Temple

A colourful Byron Bay identity is locked in a standoff with council over the fate of a seven storey hinterland hideaway which has been a countercultural refuge for over four decades. See the video.

A colourful Byron Bay identity remains locked in a standoff with council over the fate of a seven storey hinterland hideaway which has been a countercultural refuge for decades.

Guy Feldmann of Byron Bay Rainbow Temple is not giving up hope on the 42-year-old structure, which council sought to demolish after alleged building code breaches.

It comes as the longtime Northern Rivers resident has pleaded with the public to help save it.

The 78-year-old started building the mammoth temple which “defies all religion” and “is an ode to creation and evolution” in 1981, after travelling to far flung corners of the globe as a “wandering gypsy”.

Guy Feldmann has been in dispute with Lismore City Council over the structure known as the Rainbow Temple in the Byron Bay hinterlands since 1992. Picture: Gianni Francis

Mr Feldmann said the idea to build the temple came to him in a “vision” while visiting a sacred Native American site on the Californian coast in the 1970s.

The kaleidoscopic temple in Rosebank in northern NSW is located about 35km inland from Byron Bay. It has long been a refuge for backpackers and countercultural types, but Mr Feldmann said the temple was a “sacred space for all of humanity to love and enjoy”.

“The temple is a positive attribute for the times we live in and the inability for humanity to live cohesively together. It symbolises a better, stronger and safer future,” he said.

It has been six months since Lismore City Council took him to Sydney’s Land and Environment Court over the alleged development breaches.

The temple soars seven storeys high above the tree canopy. Picture: Supplied.

The council’s lawyers alleged Mr Feldmann built extra floors without consent and that the structure lacked fire-safety measures.

The temple also features a man-made 65m underground tunnel – home to glow worms and microbats.

Mr Feldmann said: “We’re in a situation where we are dealing with the courts and the council solicitors. We’ve been given time to rectify this situation by having all of their demands met.”

“I have received paperwork which states I have to demolish the temple down to the ground floor and if I don’t, they will come and demolish it themselves and charge me for it,” he said.

“There’s a very short time limit to prove to the council that we can take the necessary steps.

“It’s a very sad situation and I’d hate to see anything happen to it (the temple) but I’m going to keep fighting.

Mr Feldmann has lived a colourful life and says the temple is “for all of humanity to enjoy”. Picture: Liana Boss

Mr Feldmann said council “lacked understanding” and refused to properly inspect the property.

“They wouldn’t even come up to the top floor. It’s magic up there. I even had one guy say I built a mine. It’s actually a tunnel,” he said.

“The building is structurally sound and there has never been an issue with it.”

Mr Feldmann’s supporters have launched a GoFundMe page in the hopes it will raise $100,000 for adjustments to make the structure council approved. $11,000 has been donated to date.

Mr Feldmann has appointed an independent structural engineer, saying “with a few adjustments, the structure might be able to remain as is”.

He said the structure needed to be bushfire approved according to statewide regulations and that structural engineering certificates were required as part of an ongoing mediation process with council. Electrical and plumbing works, pest control and a new development application is also required. Mr Feldmann is seeking to have the site heritage listed.

Originally published as New twist in Guy Feldmann’s battle with Lismore City Council over Byron Bay Rainbow Temple