ABOUT THE NMA

About us

The Nillumbik Mudbrick association is a volunteer based group, dedicated to the protection and growth of Mudbrick homes and the Mudbrick building industry. Predominantly Eltham based, the group meets monthly in the homes and offices of our committee members and undertakes a raft of initiatives from professional publications to assist builders and designers, through to marketing and teaching projects such as workshops and festivals.

What do we do?

The NMA:

  • Formed in 2004, the NMA registered as an incorporated association.

  • Formed to protect and strengthen Mudbrick and particularly in Nillumbik

  • Started with 70 members and grew this to 300 members

  • Built a successful relationship with the local and wider media, receiving front page, page 3 and page 5 prominence covering mudbrick issues and news stories

  • Successfully petitioned the Victorian State government to renovate its energy rating program “First Rate” (on three occasions)

  • Was successful in receiving a $20,000 grant from the Victorian Building authority to market Mudbrick and rectify any misconception around Mudbrick

  • Successfully built a relationship with the Bendigo Bank and gleaned 3x 3 years of sponsorship plus other one off grants

  • Successfully petitioned the NSC to provide an alternative building festival (the Practically Green Festival)

  • Became a major sponsor and an integral part of the Practically Green festival for over ten years)

  • Successfully lobbied the Eltham High School to create a “Mudbrick House Tour”. The NMA became a sponsor of the tour as well as providing other strategic support

  • Has been a guest presenter on centre stage at the Melbourne Home Show

  • The NMA published a trade guide in the Nillumbik region to advertise Mudbrick trades persons and materials, to create access for people requiring associated works. It has been updated on two further occasions and is in hard copy and on Website

  • Wrote and published a Mudbrick guide to achieving the mandatory energy rating required for building permits (now six stars out of a possible ten stars)

  • Successfully lobbied the NSC to introduce an award for sustainable housing, both new and retrofitted. Mudbrick homes featured prominently in the awards

  • Built a website designed to provide information and the resources/contacts that people may require when considering anything mudbrick

  • Built a social media platform (through Facebook) to do same

  • Wrote and published a Construction Guidelines book for home owners, builders, designers Architects and building surveyors. The first edition was launched in 2019

  • The NMA has a vibrant and capable committee that meets and maintains all necessary responsibilities of an incorporated association

Come and join us