Sustainability Fair begun in 2005
Early Days – Sustainable Living and Renewable Energy Fair
The Sustainability Fair was formed in 2005 by a number of like minded individuals from the Alternative Technology Association (ATA) who realised that there was an opportunity to promote new technologies such as solar and wind power, opportunities to reduce power usage, reducing the use of plastics and increasing ideas about recycling and reusing products.
When Richard Wallace and Kaylee Maitland (deWet-Jones) started the Sustainability in 2005, all things to do with sustainability were often seen as very alternative, and we were often seen as Hippies and Greenies back then wanting to follow such practices… little did they know.
Solar power was a novelty and viewed as very expensive (which it was back then) and really not for residential use, rather for off grid purposes (remote power supply). Wind power also was promoted as an off grid alternative, and now we see it as generating massive amounts of energy from wind farms.
Similarly with Sustainable living practices such as recycling, minimal use of plastics, reducing waste, reducing energy usage ,
- We had incandescent bulbs and massive flood lights back then which used a great deal of energy,
- Water was not seen as a problem, and we use to use it more frequently than we needed,
- Electric or hybrid cars were rare (Holden Commodore was the best selling car in 2025 (still made in Australia as well)),
- Electric hot water storage systems were used (very few solar hot water heaters were available and no heat pumps were sold),
- Gas stoves were the rage,
- No energy rating systems for new houses were in place, insulation was a novelty (and very low R rating if at all),
- Few double glazed windows were installed, even the idea of curtains to reduce heat wastage in winter or stop the heat coming in in summer. was not common,
- Energy was cheap in 2005 as we still had numerous coal fired energy plants, and few solar or wind farms. The last coal fired power plant (Northern Power Plant, Port Augusta) closed in May 2016.
So there have been significant changes over the past 20 years around sustainability and renewable energy, all for the improvement of our world.
Amazing to reflect on the journey we have taken over the years and we hope that we can continue to encourage more people to learn and understand how they can also make simple changes to lead to a more sustainable planet.
Education Days
We soon found many great companies and organizations who were keen to help promote the message as well as provide solutions for those interested.
The Investigator Science Centre and KESAB were key to our Sustainability Education Days that we ran the week before at Uraidla Primary School (thanks James Parkin) where numerous local schools came for a day of sustainable education. This was a great hit, if not a massive amount of work for volunteers. We ran these for three or four years.
Supporters
We have always had a fantastic number of committed, helpful and friendly supporters, which has made the Fair so much easier and fun to organise a run.
From the commercial organisation’s who paid to attend (and therefore funded our survival), to the Not For Profit organisation’s who come along and showcase their amazing efforts, to our wonderful committee who work tirelessly through out the year to make the day happen.
Speakers and musicians have always been very generous of coming along to make the day special as well.
And then all of our volunteers who turn up on the day, helping with the setup from 6am, helping exhibitors setup, look after the gates, Pizza oven, Information desk, music and the list goes on, simply amazing.
Our Future
We have an amazing group of committed individuals (with their children, family and friends) who all come along and help make the day such a success, and without such goodwill, effort and foresight,
