For many it was the first opportunity they had to share information and knowledge about sustainable living. This first groundbreaking event was hailed as a huge success and paved the way forward to create the Festival we see today.

Not only did this first event initiate such a unique gathering, but it also led to the formation of the Sustainable Living Foundation in later years.

In 1999 the event was staged once again at Hanging Rock, featuring exhibitors from Austria, New Zealand and the United States. Audience and volunteer numbers expanded and due to its regional popularity the event relocated in 2001 to the city of Melbourne, at the Alexandra Gardens. Now with a new audience and an urban flavour, the event showcased more than two hundred exhibitors and presented over one hundred seminars.

In 2003 the Festival was on the move once more and turned to the city streets to Melbourne’s newest landmark, Federation Square. With a new emphasis on developing a cultural, creative festival, the event reached out to an awakening mainstream audience. It’s here that the Festival has settled for the past five years, and it has experienced rapid audience growth, with crowds of over 100,000 people.

Not surprisingly, the Festival has evolved much since its inception. As it approaches its ninth year, the Festival continues to reflect the growing momentum and cultural dynamics within the community. If there's one thing we can say for sure about the future of the Sustainable Living Festival, it's that it will continue to change shape as we continue to learn about more sustainable ways to live on the planet.