The Old Ambulance Station

The Old Ambulance Station (affectionately known as The Old Ambo) is located on Gubbi Gubbi / Kabi Kabi country, Sunshine Coast in the heart of Nambour.

The Old Ambo is valued for providing spaces which have launched the careers of many of the region’s artists and creatives. It is a place that truly reflects Nambour’s ‘authentic, gritty, quirky and creative’ character.

While the history of an ambulance station starts in 1922, the existing building was opened in August 1958 by then premier of Queensland, Sir Francis Nicklin. This facility served Nambour and its surrounds for forty years.

By 2001, the elderly set of buildings was superseded by a newer station in nearby Burnside, and eventually passed from State to Local Government control. In 2003, a new ‘creative industries incubator’ under the organisational name of ARTSYNC, operated the facility for three years and during this period, the Black Box Theatre was added to the rear of the old building.

In 2008, a new Board and a dedicated team of volunteers took on running the facility under the organisational name of SCAIP Inc. Almost two decades on, the Old Ambo continues to be the Sunshine Coast’s only independent multi-arts centre.