Slow Lane: Exploring Housing, Design and Community Connection

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Slow Lane – part of the Nightjar Festival Series – invites audiences to slow down and rethink how we live, build and connect. Hosted by Tim Ross (The Australian Dream?), the event brings together Australia’s leading voices in housing, design, sustainability and community. Explore tiny houses, hear from architects and changemakers, and enjoy food, fire and live music by the ocean at Torquay Common on Sunday 4 January.

About the Event

Following SOLD-OUT events in 2025, Nightjar Entertainment presents the expanded Nightjar Festival Series, bringing five unique events to Torquay Common over two weeks from 29 December to 11 January 2026. Among them, Slow Lane is an inaugural one-day event dedicated to exploring how we can live smarter, smaller and more sustainably. Under the Big Top by the ocean, the day brings together leading thinkers, designers and community builders for conversations and experiences that spark real change. From building a second dwelling or designing a tiny home to retrofitting for resilience, Slow Lane is for anyone curious about living well, living simply and living with purpose.

Hosted by Tim Ross — celebrated broadcaster, comedian, design advocate and creator of The Australian Dream? — the event explores Australia’s deep relationship with home and place, and how we can shape a more connected and sustainable future. Designed for those rethinking how we live, build and connect, Slow Lane blends inspiring talks, design showcases and hands-on experiences that show what’s possible — from energy-efficient small homes to community-driven design.

A Day of Conversation and Connection

Across the day, a diverse speaker line up will spark thoughtful conversations and share lived experiences from those reimagining what home, community and connection can be.

Speakers include:

  • James Goodlet (Altereco Design) — in conversation with Tim Ross on Small Second Dwellings and Retrofitting for Resilience. How much home can you fit into 60 m2? James shares strategies for creating energy-efficient, healthy homes designed for the future.
  • Rachel Thompson (LJM Tiny Homes), Wayne Reid & Adam Hickman (Evergreen Homes) — discussing award-winning designs and the lived experience of building and residing in tiny houses. Architect Wayne Reid, a board member of the Australian Tiny House Association (ATHA), is joined by his daughter Sophie, who shares what it’s like growing up in one.
  • Diana Connell (Global Sisters) — Ambassador for Women’s Economic & Housing Security, speaking about housing inclusion and the Little Green Houses for Her initiative, empowering women who’ve experienced violence to take steps toward safe and secure housing.
  • Panel of Experts — featuring voices from law, finance and local government (Surf Coast Shire and Mount Alexander Shire), exploring how policy, planning and finance can make small-space living more viable in the region.
  • Local Tiny-House Residents — sharing first-hand stories of life in the Surf Coast region: how to do it well, and the realities of navigating planning and community living.
  • James McLennan (Farm My School) — exploring food security and the power of transforming school grounds into thriving community farms.
  • Off-Grid Living Experts including Andre Scott (1KOMMA5° Australia) — discussing practical approaches to off-grid living, from solar energy to grey-water systems and composting toilets.
  • Jade Miles (Black Barn Farm) — closing the day with insights from her book Huddle: How We Build a Tomorrow of Togetherness, exploring belonging, connection and community in an era of change.

Across the site, visitors can explore tiny houses and van conversions on display — showcasing innovative, sustainable approaches to compact living and design.

“Slow Lane is about more than sustainable housing and design,” says Lyndelle Flintoft, Director of Nightjar Entertainment. “It’s about people — how we live, interact and create meaning together. The event invites us to pause, share ideas and imagine a more connected, positive future — while sharing a laugh along the way. It’s about moving off the fast lane and into the Slow Lane.” — Lyndelle Flintoft, Event Director

Beyond the Talks

Slow Lane is about more than discussion — it’s a full sensory experience. Guests can enjoy sustainable living stalls, food trucks, boutique bars, massage and interactive kids’ spaces throughout the day.

In the afternoon, the Slow Cooked Dinner by Grilled & Gathered Co. offers a seated, ticketed three-course meal beneath the trees — connecting people to place through the ancient craft of cooking over fire. Chef Cobie and his team work closely with local farmers and producers to create menus that reflect the region and season, bringing people together through fire, food and flavour.

As the sun sets, the Big Top transforms into an evening of live music featuring Victorian musician Tom Harrington and Rupert Bullard, visiting from Lutruwita (Tasmania).

“Slow Lane is a timely reminder that great design isn’t about scale — it’s about connection. When we build small, we often end up living larger in the ways that matter most.” — Tim Ross, Host and Design Advocate

Nightjar Festival Series — 2025/26 Events

Presented by Nightjar Entertainment

  • Big Thrift Market — Sunday 29 December 12pm-9pm 2025
  • Nightjar Festival Torquay — Friday 2 January 4pm-10pm 2026
  • Slow Lane: Exploring Housing, Design and Community Connection — Sunday 4 January (gates open 10:30am) 11am-9pm 2026
  • Nightjar Festival Torquay — Friday 9 January 2026
  • Big Exhale: Wellness & Connection by the Sea — Saturday 10 January 2026

Event Details

📅 Date: Sunday 4 January 2026
📍 Location: Torquay Common
⏰ Time: 11am–9pm
🎟 Tickets: via Humanitix
🌐 Website: www.nightjarfestival.com.au

More information: nightjarfestival.com.au

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