About the festival
Our Story
Born on a cold, sleety evening at the Federal Hotel — now an annual magnet for the steampunk community on top of the Great Dividing Range.
How it began
From a pub conversation to a town celebration
Steampunk@Altitude was conceived on a cold, sleety mid-May evening in 2016, in discussions between Scott (Dijor) McMahon and Kelvin Fahey at The Federal Hotel, Nimmitabel. Tess Hudson joined them to form the first steering committee, and the inaugural Steampunk@Altitude was held at The Federal Hotel in May 2017.
After visiting that first event, Auntie Gwen Knaebler, Britt Roijer, Diane Walker, Caroline Jardine and Paul Fitzpatrick agreed to make it a town event — eventually under the auspices of the Nimmitabel Chamber of Commerce from 2018.
Despite bushfire threats and COVID restrictions, the festival has grown into an annual magnet for the steampunk genre and a well-timed tourism boost for the village. Event coordinators have included Kelvin Fahey (2017–18), Tess Hudson (2019–21) and Alisa Thaler (2022–24), and a new committee is bringing fresh energy to the years ahead.
Milestones
The festival timeline
- 2016Conceived at The Federal Hotel by Scott (Dijor) McMahon and Kelvin Fahey.
- 2017The first Steampunk@Altitude is held at The Federal Hotel in May.
- 2018Becomes a town-wide event under the Nimmitabel Chamber of Commerce.
- 2019–24Grows through bushfire threats and COVID restrictions, led by coordinators Tess Hudson and Alisa Thaler.
- 2026Tea duels, teapot racing, film classics, the Steampunk Ball — and a new committee takes the helm.
- 2027See you on the first weekend in May — .
New to all this?
What is steampunk?
Think of it as the future as the Victorians imagined it — retro-futurism powered by steam, brass and a generous helping of imagination. Turn over the cards to learn more.
Our village
Nimmitabel, high on the Monaro
Nimmitabel is a small, historic village in the Monaro region of south-east New South Wales — home to around 324 people (2021 census) and sitting about 1,100 metres above sea level near the southern end of the Great Dividing Range. Its name is said to mean “the place where many waters start or divide” in the local Aboriginal language.
The main street, Bombala Street, carries the Monaro and Snowy Mountains highways, 37 km south of Cooma. With its historic 19th-century buildings, the 1865 Geldmacher windmill, a beloved bakery and the Federal Hotel, the village makes a perfect stage for a festival of Victoriana. Open the curiosity drawers to discover more.
1840sA name of many spellings
Early records spell it Nimmytabell (1837), Nimitabelle (1838), Nimmitabool (1841) and more, before “Nimmitabel” appears on Townsend's map in 1845.
1865Geldmacher's windmill
Geldmacher built his windmill in 1865, one of the village's historic milestones — and today “Geldmacher” is the name of the festival's main-stage area.
1912–1986The railway years
The railway arrived in 1912 and closed in 1986. The old Nimmitabel station has since hosted festival fun, including an escape-hunt adventure.
1959Hollywood comes to town
Nimmitabel was a filming location for the multi-Oscar-nominated film The Sundowners.
ClimateSnow in May? Possibly!
Being so high up, Nimmitabel gets cold winters and a frost is possible in almost any month. Snow can fall any time from May to October, so layers under your waistcoat are wise.
SoilAustralia's only true chernozem
The farmland around the village sits on chernozem, a deep black, highly fertile soil — said to be the only true example of it anywhere in Australia.
2024On the telly
Nimmitabel featured on ABC TV's Back Roads in October 2024 — and the festival proudly counts a Back Roads appearance among its claims to fame.
Who's behind it
A community effort
The festival is hosted by the Nimmitabel Chamber of Commerce and run by a volunteer committee, with local businesses, makers, performers and visitors all playing their part. Interested in volunteering, performing or holding a stall? We'd love to hear from you.
Get involved