Tamworth, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Tamworth is a city in the New England
region of New South Wales
, Australia. Straddling the Peel River
, Tamworth, which contains an estimated population of 47,595 people, is the major regional centre for southern New England and in the local government area of Tamworth Regional Council
. The city provides services for an area population of 55,063. The city is located midway between Brisbane
and Sydney, the two largest cities on the Australian east coast.
Tamworth is nationally famous as the "Country Music Capital of Australia", annually hosting the Tamworth Country Music Festival
in late January; the second biggest country music festival in the world. The city is recognised as the "National Equine Capital of Australia" because of the high volume of equine events held in the city and the construction of the world class Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre
, the biggest of its kind in the southern hemisphere. The city additionally is known as the "First City of Lights", being the first place in the Australia to utilise electric street lights.
people, from whose language comes the word "budgerigar
", inhabited the area before European contact. John Oxley
passed through the Peel Valley in 1818 and described it as "it would be impossible to find a finer or more luxuriant country than its waters...No place in this world can afford more advantages to the industrious settler than this extensive vale".
In 1831, the first sheep station
s and cattle station
s were formed, and in the same year the Australian Agricultural Company
(AAC) was granted a lease of 127,000 hectares of land at Goonoo Goonoo, south of the present location of Tamworth, extending to present-day Calala.
In the 1830s a company town began to develop on the Peel's southwest bank, the present site of West Tamworth
. In 1850 a public town was gazetted on the opposite side of the river from the existing settlement. This town became the main town, called Tamworth
after Tamworth, Staffordshire
, represented at the time in parliament by Robert Peel
. The town prospered, and was reached by the railway in 1878.
On 9 November 1888, Tamworth became the first location in the Southern Hemisphere
to have electric street lighting, giving the city the title of "First City of Light".
, on the banks of the Peel River, about 420 km north of Sydney on the New England Highway
, and 280 km inland from Port Macquarie
on the Oxley Highway
. The town is situated at a narrow point on the Peel River floodplain, nestled at the base of the Wentworth Mounds, a spur of the Moonbi Range
, where the Northwest Slopes rise to the Northern Tablelands
. The elevation is around 400 m AHD
. The Peel River runs southeast to northwest through Tamworth. The main town centre is on the northeast bank, between the river and the Wentworth Mounds which rise to heights of 800 m, towering over the city. The southwest bank is much flatter, and the city's suburbs sprawl to the south. Water for residents and the city's industry is supplied by Chaffey Dam
, 44 km south east of the city.
Tamworth occupies an area of 486.5 km² as of 2003. Surrounding towns include Gunnedah
, Willow Tree
, Uralla
, and Nundle
.
The average daytime maximum temperature is 34 °C in the summer, and the average minimum temperature in summer is 20 °C, and the mean annual rainfall is 673.2 mm, the daily average winter day temperature is 18 °C and the night is 3 °C. The climate is generally warm to hot in summer and mild in winter. The hottest recorded temperature was 46 °C and the coldest was −7 °C.
Rainfall is experienced all year round, with summer storms providing occasional heavy downpours.
Tamworth's rain season, in the early months of a new year (particularly January) can result in major flooding. Snow is very rare in Tamworth but does occur in the surrounding villages such as Nundle. Frosts appear regularly.
On 28 and 29 November 2008, Tamworth, Gunnedah and the surrounding area received torrential rain that caused severe flooding and led to the area being declared a natural disaster area.
in 2010 was 47,595. At the 2006 census, there were 42,499 people recorded living in the same area, with 33,475 people in the main urban area . The population size of the Tamworth Regional Council was 54,522 in 2005. Tamworth has a working population of approximately 18,000 in 2008.
City
Satellite Suburbs
Flight Training College encompasses the flight screening course for all Australian Defence Force pilot applicants, Basic Flying Training School for the Australian Defence Force
and the Republic of Singapore Air Force
. The Australasian Pacific Aeronautical College and New England Institute of TAFE in the city also provide aeronautical training.
Agriculture is an important industry in the Tamworth economy. An estimated 307,000 hectares of land is used for the agricultural industry, with an economic gross value of $75 million contributing to the Tamworth economy.
Important agricultural activities include beef, sheep, grain, dairy, poultry and lucerne Other agricultural areas include alpaca, buffalo, berry, fish, goat, hydroponic, nut, olive, specialised game fowl farming as well wineries. Offices for the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources are located in Tamworth.
Titles held in the city include: ABCRA National Finals and Junior National Finals, Australian Quarter Horse
National Championships & Barrel Race Super Challenge, National Cutting Horse Association Futurity among many other events. These events were hosted at the Tamworth Showgrounds in the suburb of Taminda
however they are now hosted at the new Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre in 2008. The Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre has been built by the Tamworth Regional Council
at a cost of $30 million. Construction of stage I began in June 2007 and was completed in October 2008. The centre has an indoor arena seating 3,360 people, stables for over 478 horses, a covered stud livestock selling area with seating for 660 people and truck and camping facilities for 195 vehicles. Associations for Appaloosa
s horses, all breeds, Western Performance, Australian Stock Horse
s, Pony Club
s and cutting horses all use the centre.
and North West Slopes regions of New South Wales
. Retail accounts for 22.5% of the working population and is the largest employer in the city.
Peel St is the major retail and shopping area of Tamworth and is located in the Tamworth Central Business District
. Three blocks of Peel St were refurbished over different stages during the 1990s. There are approximately a few hundred shops in the main street, as well as restaurants, street cafés and banks. These include a large Target (formally Grace Bros.).
Shopping Centres: There are many shopping centres located in Tamworth, with the majority being located in the Tamworth Central Business District
however many are also located in various neighbourhood suburbs. Shopping Centres include:
Other shopping complexes in Tamworth include Robert St Shopping Centre, and the Longyard Homemakers centre.
, the biggest event of its type in Australia and the southern hemisphere.
Tamworth is best known for hosting the Country Music Festival
. The Festival is held over a period of 10 days during January, and is the second biggest country music festival in the world. The festival has many times been counted among the world's top ten music festivals. In 2007 Forbes
rated it as number 8 of the World’s Coolest Music Festivals. The festival features thousands of Australian and international country music artists performing live shows 24 hours a day. Each year an estimated 100,000 people pass through Tamworth for the festival with around 70,000 staying for a substantial duration of the festival, with camping along the banks of the Peel River.
The 10 day festival culminates in the Golden Guitar Awards
– the most prestigious award that an Australian Country Music artist can win for their music. In honour of its country music Tamworth is home to the 'Big Golden Guitar'
, the wax museum and the hands of fame park of successful country music artists. Homegrown country music stars include Felicity Urquhart
and up and coming promising talent Chasing Bailey whose music style is a mixture of country, rock and other genres.
of 1000 people.
. It is a multipurpose centre with a seating capacity
of 5,100 and is the biggest of its kind outside the New South Wales and south-east Queensland metropolitan areas.
. There are additionally many public and non-governmental schools in Tamworth
and as well as an adult education centre.
It also holds claim to having the school that has raised the largest sum of money in one fundraising event of McCarthy Catholic College
and their 2010 annual walk-a-thon.
, football (soccer)
, hockey
, netball
, rugby league
, rugby union
and Aussie rules football. As a result the city has produced many sportspeople including test cricketers, olympic shooters and hockey players; and many players playing in the National Rugby League
. The Northern Inland Academy of Sport is one important institution in the city that has helped talented sportspeople to establish themselves "on and off the field." It was established in 1992 and has a wide range of community support.
used for equine sports, eleven bowling turfs, Kart racing track, a speedway track and a motocross track, netball courts: twelve asphalt courts, 30 grass courts and an indoor synthetic court. An inline hockey court, rugby league and union fields: nine senior fields and seven junior fields. Shooting sports 3 x 25 m standard pistol ranges, 1 x 10m air pistol range, 1 x 100m free & action pistol range; 1 x 50m service pistol range and 1 x 100m rifle range. Soccer fields with six senior fields, 8 junior fields and an indoor standard court. Two international standard softball diamonds and ten competition standard diamonds. Squash courts, two olympic swimming pools and one indoor pool. Tennis courts include 2 hardcourts, 17 synthetic courts, 8 clay courts and one indoor synthetic court. There are also two tenpin bowling centres, 16 touch football/Oztag fields, two indoor volleyball courts and three beach courts, as well as 2 water polo competition level pools.
Many different categories in the Speech and Drama section, such as mimes, poetry,story telling and prose reading are held each year for students of all ages to compete in.
There are many important parks in the city of Tamworth. Notable parks in Tamworth include Anzac park, Bicentennial Park and The Tamworth Regional Botanic Gardens. The Botanical gardens were established in 1995 and are run by the Tamworth Regional Council
. The gardens cover an area of 28 ha, 5h a of which has been developed. The gardens conserve the flora of the region, as well as include flora and plant displays from various parts of Australia and the world.
.
Since 2000 the Combined Churches of Tamworth have run a free to the public festival called "Lifefest" in Bicentennial Park. The event is run on a Saturday in July in conjunction with Fusion Tamworth and with the support of Tamworth Regional Council
.The family day celebrates National Thanksgiving Day and involves various stalls with free food, drinks, games, and showbags, as well as drama presentation, music performances, and displays from police, fire brigade and ambulance. 2007 attracted a crowd of a couple thousand to the festival in the park.
Regional news coverage of the Tamworth area is provided on all three main commerical networks. Prime7 airs a 30-minute local news bulletins produced from a newsroom in the city and broadcast from studios in Canberra. Newcastle-based NBN Television
airs news, sport and weather opt-outs for the area within its hour-long 6pm bulletin and Southern Cross Ten
airs short local news updates throughout the day.
Subscription Television services are provided by Austar
.
(ABC) operate and broadcast five radio stations:
Several other radio stations are based in the city, including 2TM, general community station 2YOU FM 88.9 FM,
Christian community radio station Radio Rhema
89.7 FM, and hit music station – FM 92.9.
The community radio stations both broadcast from Bald Hill. FM 92.9 and 2TM are owned by the Broadcast Operations Group
, branded as the "Super Radio Network".
. Trains no longer continue all the way to the Queensland
border, but the town is still served by the Countrylink
Xplorer service between Sydney and Armidale. Until November 2009 Pacific National
operated a regular fuel service from Sydney, carrying 30 million litres of fuel a year to Tamworth and Dubbo. It was the last freight service to serve the city, in the 1980s up to six trains a day ran.
The Tamworth Airport
has daily flights to Sydney with QantasLink
and daily flights to Brisbane
with Brindabella Airlines
.
Arts, entertainment and media
Business
Medicine and science
Politics, public service and the law
Sport
New England (Australia)
New England or New England North West is the name given to a generally undefined region about 60 kilometres inland, that includes the Northern Tablelands and the North West Slopes regions in the north of the state of New South Wales, Australia.-History:The region has been occupied by Indigenous...
region of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia. Straddling the Peel River
Peel River (New South Wales)
The Peel River is a river in New South Wales, Australia. It is part of the Murray-Darling Basin.The Peel rises on the northern slopes of the Liverpool Range south of the village of Nundle. It flows generally north and west through the foothills of the Great Dividing Range, through Woolomin and...
, Tamworth, which contains an estimated population of 47,595 people, is the major regional centre for southern New England and in the local government area of Tamworth Regional Council
Tamworth Regional Council
Tamworth Regional Council is a Local Government Area in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. It is on the New England Highway and the Main North railway line.- Incomes :According to the during 2003-04, there:...
. The city provides services for an area population of 55,063. The city is located midway between Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
and Sydney, the two largest cities on the Australian east coast.
Tamworth is nationally famous as the "Country Music Capital of Australia", annually hosting the Tamworth Country Music Festival
Tamworth Country Music Festival
The Tamworth Country Music Festival is an annual music festival held in Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia and is a celebration of Australian country music culture and heritage. The festival lasts for two weeks during late January and during this period the city of Tamworth comes alive, with...
in late January; the second biggest country music festival in the world. The city is recognised as the "National Equine Capital of Australia" because of the high volume of equine events held in the city and the construction of the world class Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre
Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre
The Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre is a multi building and arena complex that was designed for equine usage. It has two indoor arenas, stabling, plus an education and training building, which is located on the New England Highway approximately five kilometres south of the Tamworth...
, the biggest of its kind in the southern hemisphere. The city additionally is known as the "First City of Lights", being the first place in the Australia to utilise electric street lights.
History
The KamilaroiKamilaroi
The Kamilaroi or Gamilaraay are an Indigenous Australian people who are from the area between Tamworth and Goondiwindi, and west to Narrabri, Walgett and Lightning Ridge, in northern New South Wales...
people, from whose language comes the word "budgerigar
Budgerigar
The Budgerigar , also known as Common Pet Parakeet or Shell Parakeet informally nicknamed the budgie, is a small, long-tailed, seed-eating parrot, and the only species in the Australian genus Melopsittacus...
", inhabited the area before European contact. John Oxley
John Oxley
John Joseph William Molesworth Oxley was an explorer and surveyor of Australia in the early period of English colonisation.October 1802 he was engaged in coastal survey work including an expedition to Western Port in 1804-05...
passed through the Peel Valley in 1818 and described it as "it would be impossible to find a finer or more luxuriant country than its waters...No place in this world can afford more advantages to the industrious settler than this extensive vale".
In 1831, the first sheep station
Sheep station
A sheep station is a large property in Australia or New Zealand whose main activity is the raising of sheep for their wool and meat. In Australia, sheep stations are usually in the south-east or south-west of the country. In New Zealand the Merinos are usually in the high country of the South...
s and cattle station
Cattle station
Cattle station is an Australian term for a large farm , whose main activity is the rearing of cattle. In Australia, the owner of a cattle station is called a grazier...
s were formed, and in the same year the Australian Agricultural Company
Australian Agricultural Company
The Australian Agricultural Company is a company which serves to improve beef cattle production through responsible natural resource and land use...
(AAC) was granted a lease of 127,000 hectares of land at Goonoo Goonoo, south of the present location of Tamworth, extending to present-day Calala.
In the 1830s a company town began to develop on the Peel's southwest bank, the present site of West Tamworth
West Tamworth, New South Wales
West Tamworth is a suburb of Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia, in the city's west. It is between South Tamworth and Taminda. It is an important commercial and residential area of tamworth. In West Tamworth is the important commercial area of Bridge St, which is one of the main roads connecting...
. In 1850 a public town was gazetted on the opposite side of the river from the existing settlement. This town became the main town, called Tamworth
Tamworth
Tamworth is a town and local government district in Staffordshire, England, located north-east of Birmingham city centre and north-west of London. The town takes its name from the River Tame, which flows through the town, as does the River Anker...
after Tamworth, Staffordshire
Tamworth
Tamworth is a town and local government district in Staffordshire, England, located north-east of Birmingham city centre and north-west of London. The town takes its name from the River Tame, which flows through the town, as does the River Anker...
, represented at the time in parliament by Robert Peel
Robert Peel
Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet was a British Conservative statesman who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 10 December 1834 to 8 April 1835, and again from 30 August 1841 to 29 June 1846...
. The town prospered, and was reached by the railway in 1878.
On 9 November 1888, Tamworth became the first location in the Southern Hemisphere
Southern Hemisphere
The Southern Hemisphere is the part of Earth that lies south of the equator. The word hemisphere literally means 'half ball' or "half sphere"...
to have electric street lighting, giving the city the title of "First City of Light".
Timeline
- 1818 – Explorer John OxleyJohn OxleyJohn Joseph William Molesworth Oxley was an explorer and surveyor of Australia in the early period of English colonisation.October 1802 he was engaged in coastal survey work including an expedition to Western Port in 1804-05...
passes through the area on his exploration mission. Names the river that now runs through the town: Peel River, after British Prime Minister Robert PeelRobert PeelSir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet was a British Conservative statesman who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 10 December 1834 to 8 April 1835, and again from 30 August 1841 to 29 June 1846...
, whose name is also that of the main street and one of the local high schools. - 1831 – First sheep and cattle stations, namely Joseph Brown's 'Wallamoul' and William Dangar's 'Waldoo'. The exploring expedition led by Major Mitchell visited 'Wallamoul' in December 1831 on its way to the north-west.
- 1834 – First Australian Agriculture Company sheep brought to the Tamworth region.
- 1851 – The white population of the village of Tamworth was 254.
- 1852 – John Barnes built the Royal Oak Hotel.
- 1861 – Population 654.
- 1866 – Tamworth Mechanics' Institute opened.
- 1888 – Power station opened and enables beginning of electric street lighting. The first electric streetlights in the southern hemisphere.
- 1918 – An anchor is unveiled as a memorial to the discovery of Tamworth district.
- 1946 – Proclaimed a city.
- 1947 – East-West AirlinesEast-West Airlines (Australia)East-West Airlines was an Australian regional airline founded in Tamworth, New South Wales in 1947. It operated to major regional city-centres and connected these centres to various provincial capitals. It was purchased from its original founders in a share buy-out by Bryan Grey and Duke Minks...
was established in Tamworth, flying Tamworth to Sydney. - 1973 – The first Australasian Country Music Australia was hosted in Tamworth by radio station 2TM, which has led to the extraordinary success of the Tamworth Country Music Festival that is held every year in Summer, at the end of January, a celebration that runs continuously for 11 days.
- 1988 – A country music icon, the 12 m tall Golden GuitarGolden GuitarThe Big Golden Guitar is one of the many "big" attractions that can be found around Australia. Located in Tamworth, New South Wales, the monument is one of the best-known points of interest in New England New South Wales...
is erected as a symbol of the city's country music roots. - 1990s – The Local Council embarks on a successful campaign of urban and streetscape renewal, including the greening of Peel Street.
- 1999 – Tamworth Regional Entertainment CentreTamworth Regional Entertainment CentreTamworth Regional Entertainment Centre is an Australian arena, located approximately 5 km south of the Tamworth Central Business District, in the suburb of Hillvue...
is opened. - 2004 – A new local government area, Tamworth Regional Council, is formed from Tamworth City, ManillaManilla, New South WalesManilla is a small town in New South Wales, Australia, located on Fossickers Way 45 kilometres northwest of the regional city of Tamworth. At the 2006 census, Manilla had a population of 2,081 people. Manilla is famous for its setting as a fishing and paragliding area...
Shire and parts of Parry, NundleNundle, New South WalesNundle is a village in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. It was formerly the centre of Nundle Shire Local Government Area, but most of this area, including the village of Nundle, was absorbed into Tamworth Regional Council in 2004. The village is 400 km north of Sydney and...
and BarrabaBarraba, New South WalesBarraba is a town in the New England region of northern New South Wales, Australia. It was formerly the centre of Barraba Shire Local Government Area, but most of this, including Barraba, was absorbed into Tamworth Regional Council in 2004. On Census night 2006, Barraba had a population of 1,161...
Shires. - 2006 – In December the Tamworth Regional Council voted 6 to 3 against an offer from the Federal Government to take part in a one-year trial rural refugee resettlement programme; the majority of these refugeeRefugeeA refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s would be SudanSudanSudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
ese escaping civil warSecond Sudanese Civil WarThe Second Sudanese Civil War started in 1983, although it was largely a continuation of the First Sudanese Civil War of 1955 to 1972. Although it originated in southern Sudan, the civil war spread to the Nuba mountains and Blue Nile by the end of the 1980s....
in their homeland. Mayor of Tamworth, Cr James Treloar, argued that the refugees being resettled were tuberculous and criminal. The decision resulted in national and international media attention on the city. The public outrage unleashed by his comments and the summary decision to reject the refugees forced a reversal of the bill one month later, and Tamworth will now take part in the resettling program. - 2008 – The Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre is opened in September.
Geography
Tamworth is located on the western side of the Great Dividing RangeGreat Dividing Range
The Great Dividing Range, or the Eastern Highlands, is Australia's most substantial mountain range and the third longest in the world. The range stretches more than 3,500 km from Dauan Island off the northeastern tip of Queensland, running the entire length of the eastern coastline through...
, on the banks of the Peel River, about 420 km north of Sydney on the New England Highway
New England Highway
The New England Highway is a highway in Australia running from Hexham near Newcastle at its southern end to Yarraman near Toowoomba at its northern end. At its southern end it connects to the Pacific Highway and at its northern end it connects to the D'Aguilar Highway. It traverses the Hunter...
, and 280 km inland from Port Macquarie
Port Macquarie, New South Wales
Port Macquarie is a city on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, located about north of Sydney, and south of Brisbane. The city is located on the coast, at the mouth of the Hastings River, and has an estimated population of 44,313....
on the Oxley Highway
Oxley Highway
The Oxley Highway is a rural highway in New South Wales, Australia. It starts at Nevertire where it joins the Mitchell Highway. It links Warren, Gilgandra, Coonabarabran, Gunnedah, Carroll, Tamworth, Bendemeer, Walcha, Yarrowitch, Ellenborough, Long Flat, Wauchope and ends at Port Macquarie on the...
. The town is situated at a narrow point on the Peel River floodplain, nestled at the base of the Wentworth Mounds, a spur of the Moonbi Range
Moonbi Range
The Moonbi Range is a chain of hills which forms a part of the Northern Tablelands, New South Wales, Australia.The range is located roughly 20 kilometres north east of the city of Tamworth situated at the bottom of the Wentworth Mounds, which is part of the Moonbi Range. These mounds form a spur of...
, where the Northwest Slopes rise to the Northern Tablelands
Northern Tablelands, New South Wales
The Northern Tablelands, also known as the New England Tableland, is a plateau and a region of the Great Dividing Range in northern New South Wales, Australia. It includes the New England Range, the narrow highlands area of the New England region, stretching from the Moonbi Range in the south to...
. The elevation is around 400 m AHD
Australian Height Datum
The Australian Height Datum is a geodetic datum for altitude measurement in Australia. According to Geoscience Australia, "In 1971 the mean sea level for 1966-1968 was assigned the value of zero on the Australian Height Datum at thirty tide gauges around the coast of the Australian continent...
. The Peel River runs southeast to northwest through Tamworth. The main town centre is on the northeast bank, between the river and the Wentworth Mounds which rise to heights of 800 m, towering over the city. The southwest bank is much flatter, and the city's suburbs sprawl to the south. Water for residents and the city's industry is supplied by Chaffey Dam
Chaffey Dam
Chaffey Dam is a dam 16 kilometres north of Nundle and 44 kilometres south of Tamworth in New South Wales. Its main purposes are regulating the flow of the Peel River and to augment the water supply of Tamworth....
, 44 km south east of the city.
Tamworth occupies an area of 486.5 km² as of 2003. Surrounding towns include Gunnedah
Gunnedah, New South Wales
Gunnedah is a town and Local government area in north-eastern New South Wales, Australia. 7,542 people lived in the town of Gunnedah in 2006, including 931 indigenous people ....
, Willow Tree
Willow Tree, New South Wales
Willow Tree is a village composed of about 169 people, located in New South Wales, Australia. It is situated in the Liverpool Plains, 14 kilometers south of Quirindi near the junction of the Kamilaroi and New England Highways. The town itself is small but the farms extend southwest out to the...
, Uralla
Uralla, New South Wales
Uralla is a small town and on the Northern Tablelands, New South Wales, Australia. The town is located at the intersection of the New England Highway and Thunderbolts Way 465 kilometres north of Sydney and about 23 kilometres south west of the city of Armidale...
, and Nundle
Nundle, New South Wales
Nundle is a village in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. It was formerly the centre of Nundle Shire Local Government Area, but most of this area, including the village of Nundle, was absorbed into Tamworth Regional Council in 2004. The village is 400 km north of Sydney and...
.
Climate
Tamworth is included in the rain fall records and weather forecast region of the North West Slopes or the North West Slopes and Plains division of the Bureau of Meteorology forecasts.The average daytime maximum temperature is 34 °C in the summer, and the average minimum temperature in summer is 20 °C, and the mean annual rainfall is 673.2 mm, the daily average winter day temperature is 18 °C and the night is 3 °C. The climate is generally warm to hot in summer and mild in winter. The hottest recorded temperature was 46 °C and the coldest was −7 °C.
Rainfall is experienced all year round, with summer storms providing occasional heavy downpours.
Tamworth's rain season, in the early months of a new year (particularly January) can result in major flooding. Snow is very rare in Tamworth but does occur in the surrounding villages such as Nundle. Frosts appear regularly.
On 28 and 29 November 2008, Tamworth, Gunnedah and the surrounding area received torrential rain that caused severe flooding and led to the area being declared a natural disaster area.
Demographics
The estimated population of the Tamworth statistical district according to the Australian Bureau of StatisticsAustralian Bureau of Statistics
The Australian Bureau of Statistics is Australia's national statistical agency. It was created as the Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics on 8 December 1905, when the Census and Statistics Act 1905 was given Royal assent. It had its beginnings in section 51 of the Constitution of Australia...
in 2010 was 47,595. At the 2006 census, there were 42,499 people recorded living in the same area, with 33,475 people in the main urban area . The population size of the Tamworth Regional Council was 54,522 in 2005. Tamworth has a working population of approximately 18,000 in 2008.
Suburbs
City
- CalalaCalala, New South WalesCalala is a small suburb of the Northern New South Wales city of Tamworth, administered by Tamworth Regional Council.The area is 4.5 kilometres, from the CBD of Tamworth and is connected to the city by Calala Lane, the main road, which often becomes flooded in times of heavy rain, usually...
- Coledale
- East TamworthEast Tamworth, New South WalesEast Tamworth is a suburb of Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia, in the city's east. It is located between the suburbs of North Tamworth, Tamworth CBD and the satellite suburb of Nemingha. East Tamworth is one of the oldest settled areas of Tamworth, and therefore is known for its wide streets...
- Hills Plain
- HillvueHillvue, New South WalesHillvue is a suburb of Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia. It is a largely residential suburb of Tamworth and is south of South Tamworth. It has the second highest population estimate of any area of Tamworth, with estimates in 2001 of just over five thousand people.The longyard shopping area, the...
- KingswoodKingswood (Tamworth), New South WalesKingswood is an outer-suburb of Tamworth, New South Wales, located south of the city. It is located off the New England Highway and is located south of the suburb Hillvue and is a largely rural residential suburb. North East/East of Kingswood is the suburb Calala....
- NeminghaNemingha, New South WalesNemingha is an outer suburb of Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia, located 5 km south of the Tamworth Central Business District on the New England Highway. Northwest of Nemingha is East Tamworth and the Tamworth Central Business District.-References:...
- North TamworthNorth Tamworth, New South WalesNorth Tamworth is a suburb of Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia, in the city's north. It is located on the northerly side of the Peel River between the suburbs of East Tamworth and Oxley Vale. North of North Tamworth are the satellite suburbs Hills Plain, and Moore Creek...
- Oxley ValeOxley Vale, New South WalesOxley Vale is a suburb of Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia, which runs either side of Manilla road. It is located between the suburbs of North Tamworth and the satellite suburb of Hallsville....
- South TamworthSouth Tamworth, New South WalesSouth Tamworth is a suburb of Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia and is situated south from the cities Central Business District. It is a largely residential suburb and is a mixture of both new housing estates and well established estates...
- TamindaTaminda, New South WalesTaminda is an industrial suburb of Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia, located in the west of the city. It is mostly zoned industrial and consequently its residential population is very low. The northern part of Taminda is flood plains and is used as sporting fields. Floods in 1998 caused much...
(Tamworth Industrial Area) - Tamworth Central Business DistrictTamworth Central Business District, New South WalesThe Tamworth Central Business District is a suburb of Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia, in the city centre and is located north of the Peel River. It is primarily a business area of Tamworth, with many shops, restaurants, car dealerships, as well as shopping centres and public facilities. The...
- Westdale
- West TamworthWest Tamworth, New South WalesWest Tamworth is a suburb of Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia, in the city's west. It is between South Tamworth and Taminda. It is an important commercial and residential area of tamworth. In West Tamworth is the important commercial area of Bridge St, which is one of the main roads connecting...
Satellite Suburbs
- Daruka EstateDaruka Estate, New South WalesDaruka Estate is an outer-suburb of Tamworth, New South Wales, in the city's north. It is located in the Daruka Valley north of the suburb North Tamworth and east of the locality of Moore Creek. North East/East of Daruka Estate is Moonbi and Kootingal...
- DuriDuri, New South WalesDuri is a village south of Tamworth in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. It lies on the Werris Creek Road and the Main North railway line. A railway station was located there between 1879 and 1985.-References:...
- Hallsville
- KootingalKootingal, New South WalesKootingal is a town in New South Wales, Australia in the Tamworth Regional Council area. It is commonly called a satellite suburb of Tamworth because of its closeness and the fact that its residents use Tamworth's services. Founded as an Aboriginal mission, Kootingal traces its name roots to the...
- Moore Creek
- PiallamorePiallamore, New South WalesPiallamore is a small outer suburb of Tamworth located about 15 km South-East of the city. It is located within the Parry County Cadastral division of New South Wales in the New England region...
- TintinhullTintinhull, New South WalesTintinhull is a tiny hamlet about 10 kilometres east of Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia. It is situated between Nemingha and Kootingal, and lies on the New England Highway...
Central Business District
The Tamworth Central Business District is the city centre and is located north of the Peel River. It is primarily a business area of Tamworth, with many shops, restaurants, car dealerships, as well as shopping centres and public facilities. The Tamworth Regional Council has its headquarters in Peel Street at Ray Walsh House. Bicentennial Park and number one cricket oval are also located in the suburb.Economy
Tamworth is primarily a service centre for the New England and North West regions, providing services to a population of some 200,000 plus people from the Tamworth region and satellite areas. The retail industry is the biggest employer followed by manufacturing and health services. The industries with the most number of businesses in order are property and business services, agriculture and construction, closely followed by finance and insurance services. With a diverse economy agriculture, education, transport and aviation are major industries.Aviation
Aviation has been a significant part of the local economy, partly due to the city's exceptionally suitable flying weather, with the former East West Airlines and Eastern Airlines having had service and maintenance bases at the Tamworth Airport. The Tamworth airport is one of the 10 busiest airports in Australia and is an important centre for flying training activities defence force graduates, but training of civil aviation students has declined dramatically in recent years. The BAE SystemsBAE Systems
BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
Flight Training College encompasses the flight screening course for all Australian Defence Force pilot applicants, Basic Flying Training School for the Australian Defence Force
Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
and the Republic of Singapore Air Force
Republic of Singapore Air Force
The Republic of Singapore Air Force is the air arm of the Singapore Armed Forces. It was first established in 1968 as the Singapore Air Defence Command...
. The Australasian Pacific Aeronautical College and New England Institute of TAFE in the city also provide aeronautical training.
Agriculture
Important agricultural activities include beef, sheep, grain, dairy, poultry and lucerne Other agricultural areas include alpaca, buffalo, berry, fish, goat, hydroponic, nut, olive, specialised game fowl farming as well wineries. Offices for the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources are located in Tamworth.
Equine and sporting horse events
Tamworth is recognised nationally as the sporting horse capital of Australia and is the headquarters for three major equine associations: CHA, ABCRA and AQHA. Many of the Australia's most important equine events take place in Tamworth. Various international, national and state championships are regularly held in the Tamworth district as well as Australia's richest sporting horse event; the NCHA Futurity. Additionally the ABCRA National Finals Rodeo occurs during the Tamworth Country Music Festival. Equine sports and their participation is very high in the Tamworth region amongst residents. The strength of the Equine and sporting horse industry in Tamworth has resulted in hundreds of businesses and horse studs being located in the city's region.Titles held in the city include: ABCRA National Finals and Junior National Finals, Australian Quarter Horse
American Quarter Horse
The American Quarter Horse is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name came from its ability to outdistance other breeds of horses in races of a quarter mile or less; some individuals have been clocked at speeds up to 55 mph...
National Championships & Barrel Race Super Challenge, National Cutting Horse Association Futurity among many other events. These events were hosted at the Tamworth Showgrounds in the suburb of Taminda
Taminda, New South Wales
Taminda is an industrial suburb of Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia, located in the west of the city. It is mostly zoned industrial and consequently its residential population is very low. The northern part of Taminda is flood plains and is used as sporting fields. Floods in 1998 caused much...
however they are now hosted at the new Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre in 2008. The Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre has been built by the Tamworth Regional Council
Tamworth Regional Council
Tamworth Regional Council is a Local Government Area in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. It is on the New England Highway and the Main North railway line.- Incomes :According to the during 2003-04, there:...
at a cost of $30 million. Construction of stage I began in June 2007 and was completed in October 2008. The centre has an indoor arena seating 3,360 people, stables for over 478 horses, a covered stud livestock selling area with seating for 660 people and truck and camping facilities for 195 vehicles. Associations for Appaloosa
Appaloosa
The Appaloosa is a horse breed best known for its colorful leopard-spotted coat pattern. There is a wide range of body types within the breed, stemming from the influence of multiple breeds of horses throughout its history. Each horse's color pattern is genetically the result of various spotting...
s horses, all breeds, Western Performance, Australian Stock Horse
Australian Stock Horse
The Australian Stock Horse , has been especially bred for Australian conditions. It is a hardy breed of horse noted for endurance, agility and a good temperament. Its ancestry dates to the arrival of the first horses in Australia, brought from Europe, Africa and Asia...
s, Pony Club
Pony Club
Pony Club is an international youth organization devoted to the educating youths about horses and riding. Pony Club organizations exist in over 30 countries worldwide...
s and cutting horses all use the centre.
Retail
Tamworth is the largest and main retail centre for the New EnglandNew England (Australia)
New England or New England North West is the name given to a generally undefined region about 60 kilometres inland, that includes the Northern Tablelands and the North West Slopes regions in the north of the state of New South Wales, Australia.-History:The region has been occupied by Indigenous...
and North West Slopes regions of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. Retail accounts for 22.5% of the working population and is the largest employer in the city.
Peel St is the major retail and shopping area of Tamworth and is located in the Tamworth Central Business District
Tamworth Central Business District, New South Wales
The Tamworth Central Business District is a suburb of Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia, in the city centre and is located north of the Peel River. It is primarily a business area of Tamworth, with many shops, restaurants, car dealerships, as well as shopping centres and public facilities. The...
. Three blocks of Peel St were refurbished over different stages during the 1990s. There are approximately a few hundred shops in the main street, as well as restaurants, street cafés and banks. These include a large Target (formally Grace Bros.).
Shopping Centres: There are many shopping centres located in Tamworth, with the majority being located in the Tamworth Central Business District
Tamworth Central Business District, New South Wales
The Tamworth Central Business District is a suburb of Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia, in the city centre and is located north of the Peel River. It is primarily a business area of Tamworth, with many shops, restaurants, car dealerships, as well as shopping centres and public facilities. The...
however many are also located in various neighbourhood suburbs. Shopping Centres include:
- Tamworth City Plaza – Is located in the Tamworth Central Business DistrictTamworth Central Business District, New South WalesThe Tamworth Central Business District is a suburb of Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia, in the city centre and is located north of the Peel River. It is primarily a business area of Tamworth, with many shops, restaurants, car dealerships, as well as shopping centres and public facilities. The...
(CBD) with 42 shops including ColesColes SupermarketsColes Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741 stores nationally Coles Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741 stores nationally Coles Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741...
, KmartKmart AustraliaKmart Australia Limited is a discount department store chain owned by Wesfarmers. It operates 172 stores in Australia and 15 in New Zealand, with its head office located in Mulgrave, Victoria. Wesfarmers uses the Kmart name under licence from Sears Holdings Corporation.-History:Kmart Australia...
.
- Centrepoint Shopping Centre – shopping centre that began construction in early 2007 and was completed by Christmas 2008 behind the Tamworth Town Hall, in the Tamworth Central Business DistrictTamworth Central Business District, New South WalesThe Tamworth Central Business District is a suburb of Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia, in the city centre and is located north of the Peel River. It is primarily a business area of Tamworth, with many shops, restaurants, car dealerships, as well as shopping centres and public facilities. The...
between the old city library and behind the speciality shops in the main street Peel st. The Centre contains a FranklinsFranklinsFranklins is a discount supermarket chain selling packaged groceries and perishables throughout New South Wales, Australia. It owns the No Frills brand of generic products, promoted by their mascot, "Red Sock". It is known as "Australia's Original Discount Grocer"...
supermarket as well as The Forum 6 Cinema Complex that contains 5 cinemas and a performing arts centre/theatre known as the Capitol Theatre that also doubles as a cinema, 6 restaurants, food court and 40 speciality shops.
- The Atrium – Formerly known as the Tamworth Arcade, and is located in the Tamworth Central Business DistrictTamworth Central Business District, New South WalesThe Tamworth Central Business District is a suburb of Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia, in the city centre and is located north of the Peel River. It is primarily a business area of Tamworth, with many shops, restaurants, car dealerships, as well as shopping centres and public facilities. The...
with entrances from Peel St, and Kable Avenue. The centre was upgraded in early 2008.
- Tamworth Shopping World – Located in West Tamworth along Bridge st, Tamworth Shopping World with over 50 speciality shops, including a food court and anchored by Woolworths and Big WBig WBig W is one of the largest chain of discount department stores in Australia, with over 150 stores. It is a division of Woolworths Limited, the second largest retailer in Australia. Its main competitors are Kmart and Target, both owned by Wesfarmers....
.
- Northgate Shopping Centre – Situated in North TamworthNorth Tamworth, New South WalesNorth Tamworth is a suburb of Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia, in the city's north. It is located on the northerly side of the Peel River between the suburbs of East Tamworth and Oxley Vale. North of North Tamworth are the satellite suburbs Hills Plain, and Moore Creek...
ColesColes SupermarketsColes Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741 stores nationally Coles Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741 stores nationally Coles Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741...
is located inside the centre as well as 10 speciality shops. The centre has been recently redevelopment. Bathroom facilities are available for all shoppers, as well as ATM facilities.
- Southgate Shopping Centre – Situated in South TamworthSouth Tamworth, New South WalesSouth Tamworth is a suburb of Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia and is situated south from the cities Central Business District. It is a largely residential suburb and is a mixture of both new housing estates and well established estates...
Bi-LoBI-LO (Australia)BI-LO is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers . Once a chain of 180 outlets, most BI-LO supermarkets were re-branded as Coles Supermarkets during 2006 and 2007. In October 2008, Coles stated it was looking to create a new chain to replace the remaining BI-LO stores...
is located inside the centre as well as other speciality shops. The centre was the first mall to be built in Tamworth. .
- Tamworth Homespace – Is located out at the Longyard. It is a bulk goods complex. It also contains two large gyms (Jetts 24hr Fitness & Inspirations) and also Outback Jacks Bar & Grill, a family restaurant.
- Calala Court shopping complex – Is located in Calala and was opened in 2007. It has 10 speciality shops and an IGA supermarket.
Other shopping complexes in Tamworth include Robert St Shopping Centre, and the Longyard Homemakers centre.
Tourism
Tourism is an important industry, worth over , annually with by far the most significant draw being the annual Tamworth Country Music FestivalTamworth Country Music Festival
The Tamworth Country Music Festival is an annual music festival held in Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia and is a celebration of Australian country music culture and heritage. The festival lasts for two weeks during late January and during this period the city of Tamworth comes alive, with...
, the biggest event of its type in Australia and the southern hemisphere.
Country Music Festival
Tamworth Country Music Festival
The Tamworth Country Music Festival is an annual music festival held in Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia and is a celebration of Australian country music culture and heritage. The festival lasts for two weeks during late January and during this period the city of Tamworth comes alive, with...
. The Festival is held over a period of 10 days during January, and is the second biggest country music festival in the world. The festival has many times been counted among the world's top ten music festivals. In 2007 Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
rated it as number 8 of the World’s Coolest Music Festivals. The festival features thousands of Australian and international country music artists performing live shows 24 hours a day. Each year an estimated 100,000 people pass through Tamworth for the festival with around 70,000 staying for a substantial duration of the festival, with camping along the banks of the Peel River.
The 10 day festival culminates in the Golden Guitar Awards
Country Music Awards of Australia
The CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia is an annual awards night held in January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival, in Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia celebrating recording excellence in the Australian country music industry. They are wholly owned and staged by the Country Music...
– the most prestigious award that an Australian Country Music artist can win for their music. In honour of its country music Tamworth is home to the 'Big Golden Guitar'
Golden Guitar
The Big Golden Guitar is one of the many "big" attractions that can be found around Australia. Located in Tamworth, New South Wales, the monument is one of the best-known points of interest in New England New South Wales...
, the wax museum and the hands of fame park of successful country music artists. Homegrown country music stars include Felicity Urquhart
Felicity Urquhart
Felicity Ann Urquhart is an Australian country music singer-songwriter, sometimes seen as Felicity . Her single "Big Black Cloud", co-written with Randy Scruggs, reached No. 1 on Country Tracks National Top 30 Singles Chart in 2007. She has won numerous awards including a Centenary Medal...
and up and coming promising talent Chasing Bailey whose music style is a mixture of country, rock and other genres.
Tamworth Capitol Theatre
The Tamworth Capitol Theatre is fitted with a 405-seat auditorium with two levels of tiered seating and includes professional theatre lighting, full sound system, dressing rooms, orchestra pit, fly tower and is fully air conditioned. It is a multi-function space for live theatre and cinema productions. It has significant added to the existing cultural facilities in the region and provides a forum for live theatre including dance, drama, music, educational activities, conferences and community events.Tamworth Town Hall
The Tamworth Town Hall is located in the Tamworth Central Business District is a historical building that is used for events, conferences and concerts. Additionally it is commonly used for career expos, antique shows, meetings and conventions. Is has a proscenium stage, a gallery and has a seating capacitySeating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
of 1000 people.
Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre
Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre is located in the suburb of HillvueHillvue, New South Wales
Hillvue is a suburb of Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia. It is a largely residential suburb of Tamworth and is south of South Tamworth. It has the second highest population estimate of any area of Tamworth, with estimates in 2001 of just over five thousand people.The longyard shopping area, the...
. It is a multipurpose centre with a seating capacity
Seating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
of 5,100 and is the biggest of its kind outside the New South Wales and south-east Queensland metropolitan areas.
Education
The New England Institute of TAFE's biggest campus, the Tamworth TAFE Campus is located in the city; as well as an access centre for the University of New EnglandUniversity of New England, Australia
The University of New England is an Australian public university with approximately 18,000 higher education students. Its original and main campus is located in the city of Armidale in northern New South Wales....
. There are additionally many public and non-governmental schools in Tamworth
Schools in Tamworth, New South Wales
- Government Schools :- Non-Government Schools :...
and as well as an adult education centre.
It also holds claim to having the school that has raised the largest sum of money in one fundraising event of McCarthy Catholic College
McCarthy Catholic College
McCarthy Catholic College is a Catholic High School in the city of Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia. McCarthy Catholic College was formed in 2000 through the amalgamation of "Our Lady of the Rosary College" and "McCarthy Catholic Senior High School" , both previously in Tamworth.-The Creation...
and their 2010 annual walk-a-thon.
Sport
Sport is a very important part of Tamworth culture and over 50 different sports and recreational pursuits are participated in by the community. Many major annual and one off sporting events are held in the city because of the wide range of facilities and venues available. There are over 180 sporting clubs in the Tamworth region and the region has several strong competitions, including basketball, cricketCricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
, football (soccer)
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
, hockey
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
, netball
Netball
Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
, rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
, rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
and Aussie rules football. As a result the city has produced many sportspeople including test cricketers, olympic shooters and hockey players; and many players playing in the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
. The Northern Inland Academy of Sport is one important institution in the city that has helped talented sportspeople to establish themselves "on and off the field." It was established in 1992 and has a wide range of community support.
Facilities
Located within the city are an athletic track, Australian football grounds, badminton courts, baseball diamonds, indoor basketball courts, indoor and outdoor cricket pitches, croquet turf, cycling: velodrome and bmx track, two 18-hole golf courses, a gymnastic centre, water bases hockey fields, the Australian Equine and Livestock Events CentreAustralian Equine and Livestock Events Centre
The Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre is a multi building and arena complex that was designed for equine usage. It has two indoor arenas, stabling, plus an education and training building, which is located on the New England Highway approximately five kilometres south of the Tamworth...
used for equine sports, eleven bowling turfs, Kart racing track, a speedway track and a motocross track, netball courts: twelve asphalt courts, 30 grass courts and an indoor synthetic court. An inline hockey court, rugby league and union fields: nine senior fields and seven junior fields. Shooting sports 3 x 25 m standard pistol ranges, 1 x 10m air pistol range, 1 x 100m free & action pistol range; 1 x 50m service pistol range and 1 x 100m rifle range. Soccer fields with six senior fields, 8 junior fields and an indoor standard court. Two international standard softball diamonds and ten competition standard diamonds. Squash courts, two olympic swimming pools and one indoor pool. Tennis courts include 2 hardcourts, 17 synthetic courts, 8 clay courts and one indoor synthetic court. There are also two tenpin bowling centres, 16 touch football/Oztag fields, two indoor volleyball courts and three beach courts, as well as 2 water polo competition level pools.
Senior Sports Teams In Tamworth
| Team name | Sport | Competition | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tamworth Rugby Club | Rugby Union | Central North | 1954 |
| Pirates Rugby Club | Rugby Union | Central North | 1962 |
| North Tamworth Bears | Rugby League | Group 4 Group 4 Rugby League Group 4 is a rugby league competition in the New England and north west area of New South Wales, run under the auspices of the Country Rugby League.-Structure:... |
1911 |
| West Tamworth Lions | Rugby League | Group 4 Group 4 Rugby League Group 4 is a rugby league competition in the New England and north west area of New South Wales, run under the auspices of the Country Rugby League.-Structure:... |
|
| Tamworth FC | Football (soccer) | New England Mutual Premier League | 2008 |
| North Companions | Football (soccer) | New England Mutual Premier League | |
| Oxley Vale Attunga | Football (soccer) | New England Mutual Premier League | 1985 |
| Tamworth Kangaroos | Australian rules football Australian rules football Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either... |
Tamworth Australian Football League Tamworth Australian Football League The Tamworth Australian Football League is an Australian rules football competition in the Tamworth and New England region of New South Wales, Australia... |
|
| Tamworth Swans | Australian rules football Australian rules football Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either... |
Tamworth Australian Football League Tamworth Australian Football League The Tamworth Australian Football League is an Australian rules football competition in the Tamworth and New England region of New South Wales, Australia... |
|
| Kiwi Diggers Hockey Club | Hockey | Subaru Super Sticks | 1958 |
Performing Arts
- The Tamworth Eisteddfod is held annually in May and June, with Speech and Drama, Debating, Music and Dance sections. Many dance schools in Tamworth: En Avant, The Owl and the Pussycat, La La Dance Studio, Kaluder, Just Dance Performing Arts and Tamworth City Dance Academy all compete in the Eisteddfod.
Many different categories in the Speech and Drama section, such as mimes, poetry,story telling and prose reading are held each year for students of all ages to compete in.
- The Northwest Dance Festival has been held various times in Tamworth, being held in the Tamworth Regional Entertainment CentreTamworth Regional Entertainment CentreTamworth Regional Entertainment Centre is an Australian arena, located approximately 5 km south of the Tamworth Central Business District, in the suburb of Hillvue...
in 2006. This includes a wide variety of dances from all the Public schools in the region.
- The Tamworth Musical Society is an important part of the Tamworth culture, and has performed musicals such as Grease, Westside Story, and Les Misérables in October–November 2007.
- The Tamworth Regional Conservatorium of Music is another important part of the performing arts scene in Tamworth. Catering for over 1000 students of a wide range learning many instruments, from experienced and qualified teachers. It is the largest regional conservatorium in the state behind Wollongong, with students ranging in age from four years to 75 years old, learning over 21 different instruments.
- CAPERS is a show hosted at Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre every 2 years. It is to showcase the talent of students from all over the North-West region. Both primary and high schools.
Parks
Tamworth Regional Council
Tamworth Regional Council is a Local Government Area in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. It is on the New England Highway and the Main North railway line.- Incomes :According to the during 2003-04, there:...
. The gardens cover an area of 28 ha, 5h a of which has been developed. The gardens conserve the flora of the region, as well as include flora and plant displays from various parts of Australia and the world.
Heritage
The following buildings are listed on the Register of the National EstateRegister of the National Estate
The Register of the National Estate is a listing of natural and cultural heritage places in Australia. The listing was initially compiled between 1976 and 2003 by the Australian Heritage Commission. The register is now maintained by the Australian Heritage Council...
.
- Hospital Main Block, built 1883
- Post Office, Victorian Classical style, designed by Colonial Architect James BarnetJames BarnetJames Johnstone Barnet was the Colonial Architect for New South Wales from 1862 - 1890.-Life and career:Barnet was born at Almericlose, Arbroath, Scotland. The son of a builder, he was educated at the local high school...
, circa 1886 - Lands Office, Fitzroy Street, built 1889
- Public School, Upper Street, built 1885
Tamworth Power Station Museum
Tamworth was the first town in Australia to light its streets by electricity in 1888. A larger Power Station was established due to the high demand of electricity. The Tamworth Power Station Museum purpose is to tell the story of the city's role in the development of electric street lighting, from the early days of oil lamps in 1876 and gas lamps in 1882, through to the installation of the first electric lights in November 1888. The museum has one Australia's largest collections of early 20th century electrical appliances.Powerhouse Motorcycle Museum
The Powerhouse Motorcycle Museum holds more than 50 motorcycles spanning from the 1950s to the 1980s. The museum specialises in Ducati, Triumph, Honda, Velocette and Lavender. The museum holds an example of the limited edition MV Agusta F4 Serie Oro.Churches
Tamworth Regional Council
Tamworth Regional Council is a Local Government Area in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. It is on the New England Highway and the Main North railway line.- Incomes :According to the during 2003-04, there:...
.The family day celebrates National Thanksgiving Day and involves various stalls with free food, drinks, games, and showbags, as well as drama presentation, music performances, and displays from police, fire brigade and ambulance. 2007 attracted a crowd of a couple thousand to the festival in the park.
Newspapers
- Northern Daily LeaderNorthern Daily LeaderThe Northern Daily Leader is a daily newspaper produced in the city of Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia. The paper publishes stories related to the Tamworth, New England and North West Slopes regions. It also publishes stories about state and national events. Its online website also publishes...
is a long-running daily local paper with significant local and regional coverage owned by Rural PressRural PressRural Press Limited was an Australian media company which owned approximately 170 newspaper and magazine titles, The Canberra Times being the most prominent. These were predominantly in rural Australia, though it also owned a number of agricultural publications in the United States and New Zealand...
. - Tamworth Times is a free weekly paper owned by Rural PressRural PressRural Press Limited was an Australian media company which owned approximately 170 newspaper and magazine titles, The Canberra Times being the most prominent. These were predominantly in rural Australia, though it also owned a number of agricultural publications in the United States and New Zealand...
. - Tamworth City News was established in May 2007 and is an independent free newspaper distributed weekly on Fridays in Tamworth, QuirindiQuirindi, New South WalesQuirindi is a small town on the North West Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia, in Liverpool Plains Shire Local Government Area ....
, Werris CreekWerris Creek, New South WalesWerris Creek is a small town in New South Wales, Australia, near Tamworth, in Liverpool Plains Shire. It is north of Quirindi and is at the junction of the Main North railway line to Armidale and Moree. At the 2006 census, Werris Creek had a population of 1,490.-History:The area is thought to...
, ManillaManilla, New South WalesManilla is a small town in New South Wales, Australia, located on Fossickers Way 45 kilometres northwest of the regional city of Tamworth. At the 2006 census, Manilla had a population of 2,081 people. Manilla is famous for its setting as a fishing and paragliding area...
, BarrabaBarraba, New South WalesBarraba is a town in the New England region of northern New South Wales, Australia. It was formerly the centre of Barraba Shire Local Government Area, but most of this, including Barraba, was absorbed into Tamworth Regional Council in 2004. On Census night 2006, Barraba had a population of 1,161...
, and KootingalKootingal, New South WalesKootingal is a town in New South Wales, Australia in the Tamworth Regional Council area. It is commonly called a satellite suburb of Tamworth because of its closeness and the fact that its residents use Tamworth's services. Founded as an Aboriginal mission, Kootingal traces its name roots to the...
.
Television
- Prime7, 7Two7Two7TWO is an Australian free-to-air standard definition digital television channel which was launched by the Seven Network on Sunday 1 November 2009 at 12pm....
, 7mate7mate7mate is an Australian free-to-air high definition digital television channel, which was launched by the Seven Network on 25 September 2010.The network stated that 7mate would contain sport and regular programs aimed primarily at a male audience, with programming drawn from a combination of new...
(Seven NetworkSeven NetworkThe Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
affiliated channels). - NBN TelevisionNBN TelevisionNBN Television is a television station based in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. The station was inaugurated on 4 March 1962 as the first regional commercial television station in New South Wales, and has since expanded to 39 transmitters throughout the northern half of New South Wales and...
, Go!Go! (Australian TV channel)GO! is an Australian free-to-air standard definition digital television channel launched by the Nine Network on Sunday 9 August 2009.-Origins:...
, GEMGEM (Australian TV channel)GEM is an Australian free-to-air high definition digital television channel, launched by the Nine Network on Sunday 26 September 2010 at 6am...
(Nine Network Australia). - Southern Cross TenSouthern Cross TenSouthern Cross Ten is an Australian television channel broadcast by the Macquarie Media Group in Queensland, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and South Australia. The channel is owned by the Macquarie Media Group as is affiliated to Network Ten...
, One HD and ElevenEleven (TV channel)Eleven is an Australian free-to-air standard definition digital television channel, which was launched by ElevenCo, on 11 January 2011.-Joint venture:...
(Network Ten Australia). - ABC TelevisionABC TelevisionABC Television is a service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched in 1956. As a public broadcasting broadcaster, the ABC provides four non-commercial channels within Australia, and a partially advertising-funded satellite channel overseas....
including ABC1ABC1ABC1 was a United Kingdom based television channel from Disney using the branding of the Disney owned American network, ABC.The channel initially launched exclusively on the British digital terrestrial television platform Freeview on 27 September 2004. On 10 December 2004 it was launched on...
, ABC2ABC2ABC2 is a national public television channel in Australia. Launched on 7 March 2005, it is the responsibility of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's television division, and is available nationally to digital television viewers in Australia...
, ABC3ABC3-Future shows:Programming confirmed for future broadcast will include:* After School Care * Bindi's Boot Camp * Bushwacked! * Dance Academy * Dancing Down Under...
and ABC News 24ABC News 24ABC News 24 is an Australian 24-hour news channel launched and owned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The channel replaced the former ABC High Definition simulcast of ABC1 and commenced broadcasting at 7:30pm 5:30 on Thursday, 22 July 2010.-Pre-launch:The ABC announced in January 2010...
, part of the Australian Broadcasting CorporationAustralian Broadcasting CorporationThe Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
. - Special Broadcasting ServiceSpecial Broadcasting ServiceThe Special Broadcasting Service is a hybrid-funded Australian public broadcasting radio and television network. The stated purpose of SBS is "to provide multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect...
, SBS ONE and SBS Two.
Regional news coverage of the Tamworth area is provided on all three main commerical networks. Prime7 airs a 30-minute local news bulletins produced from a newsroom in the city and broadcast from studios in Canberra. Newcastle-based NBN Television
NBN Television
NBN Television is a television station based in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. The station was inaugurated on 4 March 1962 as the first regional commercial television station in New South Wales, and has since expanded to 39 transmitters throughout the northern half of New South Wales and...
airs news, sport and weather opt-outs for the area within its hour-long 6pm bulletin and Southern Cross Ten
NRN
NRN is a television station originating in Coffs Harbour, Australia as part of the Southern Cross Ten network. The station was formally a partnership between NRN-11 Coffs Harbour and RTN-8 Lismore .-Origins:...
airs short local news updates throughout the day.
Subscription Television services are provided by Austar
Austar
Austar is an Australian telecommunications company. Its main business activity is Subscription Television but it is also involved with internet access and mobile phones...
.
Radio
The Australian Broadcasting CorporationAustralian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
(ABC) operate and broadcast five radio stations:
- ABC New England North WestABC New England North WestABC New England North West is an ABC Local Radio station based in Tamworth and broadcasting to the regions of New England, the Northern Tablelands and North West Slopes in New South Wales...
648 am / 99.1 FM – part of the ABC Local RadioABC Local RadioABC Local Radio is a network of publicly owned radio stations in Australia, operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.ABC Local Radio stations broadcast across the continent using terrestrial transmitters and satellites...
network. - ABC News RadioABC News RadioABC News Radio is the radio service of ABC News, a division of the ABC Television Network. Formerly known as ABC Radio News, ABC News Radio feeds, through Cumulus Media Networks, newscasts on the hour to its more than 2,000 affiliates...
91.7 FM - ABC Radio National 93.9 FM / 100.7 FM
- ABC Classic FMABC Classic FMABC Classic FM is a classical music radio station available in Australia, and internationally online. It is operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation . It was established in 1976 as "ABC-FM", and later for a short time was known as "ABC Fine Music" , before adopting its current name...
96.7 FM / 103.1 FM - Triple JTriple Jtriple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
94.7 FM / 99.9 FM
Several other radio stations are based in the city, including 2TM, general community station 2YOU FM 88.9 FM,
Christian community radio station Radio Rhema
Radio Rhema
New Zealand's Rhema is an evangelical Christian talk and music radio network owned and operated by Rhema Broadcasting Group since 1978. The network currently features programmes from Aaron Ironside, Laurel McCulloch, Rob Holding and Rosemary Jane and pre-recorded daily preaching from Joyce Meyer,...
89.7 FM, and hit music station – FM 92.9.
The community radio stations both broadcast from Bald Hill. FM 92.9 and 2TM are owned by the Broadcast Operations Group
Broadcast Operations Group
Owned by Bill Caralis, Broadcast Operations Group operates a number of radio stations in northern New South Wales & southern Queensland, Australia. These are collectively known as the "Super Radio Network"...
, branded as the "Super Radio Network".
Transport
Tamworth is situated on the Main North railway lineMain North railway line, New South Wales
The Main North Line is a major railway in New South Wales, Australia. It runs through the Central Coast, Hunter and the New England regions. The line was the original main line between Sydney and Brisbane, however this required a change of gauge at Wallangarra...
. Trains no longer continue all the way to the Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
border, but the town is still served by the Countrylink
CountryLink
CountryLink is the operator of passenger rail services in country New South Wales, Australia and into Queensland and Victoria. It is an operating brand of the Rail Corporation New South Wales, a government-owned entity...
Xplorer service between Sydney and Armidale. Until November 2009 Pacific National
Pacific National
Pacific National is one of Australia's largest private rail freight businesses. Originally a joint venture between Patrick Corporation and Toll Holdings; it is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Asciano Limited following the restructure of Toll Holdings....
operated a regular fuel service from Sydney, carrying 30 million litres of fuel a year to Tamworth and Dubbo. It was the last freight service to serve the city, in the 1980s up to six trains a day ran.
The Tamworth Airport
Tamworth Airport
Tamworth Airport is a regional airport serving Tamworth, a city in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is located from the town centre, on New Winton Road. The airport is owned and operated by the Tamworth Regional Council...
has daily flights to Sydney with QantasLink
QantasLink
QantasLink is a regional brand of Australian airline Qantas and is an affiliate member of the Oneworld airline alliance. It is a major competitor to Regional Express Airlines, Virgin Australia and Skywest Airlines. As of September 2010 QantasLink provides 1900 flights each week to 54 domestic and...
and daily flights to Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
with Brindabella Airlines
Brindabella Airlines
Brindabella Airlines Pty Ltd is a regional airline based in Canberra, Australia. It is a Qantas affiliate airline operating a small regional network. Its main base is Canberra International Airport.- History :...
.
Sister cities
Tamworth has the following sister cities:| Country | City (and Province or State) |
|---|---|
 New Zealand |
Gore Gore, New Zealand Gore is a town, surrounding borough, and district in the Southland region of the South Island of New Zealand.-Geography:The Gore District has a land area of 1,251.62 km² and a resident population of... |
 Japan |
Sannohe, Aomori Sannohe, Aomori is a town located in the Sannohe District of southeastern Aomori Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the town had an estimated population of 11,426 and a density of 75.4 persons per km². Its total area was 151.55.91 km².-Geography:... |
 England |
Tamworth Tamworth Tamworth is a town and local government district in Staffordshire, England, located north-east of Birmingham city centre and north-west of London. The town takes its name from the River Tame, which flows through the town, as does the River Anker... |
 China |
Chaoyang District, Beijing Chaoyang District, Beijing Chaoyang District is a district of Beijing, China.Chaoyang is home to the majority of Beijing's many foreign embassies, the well-known Sanlitun bar street, as well as Beijing's growing CBD. The Olympic Park, built for the 2008 Summer Olympics, is also in Chaoyang... |
 United States |
DeKalb, Illinois DeKalb, Illinois DeKalb is a city in DeKalb County, Illinois, United States. The population was 43,862 at the 2010 census, up from 39,018 at the 2000 census. The city is named after decorated German war hero Johann De Kalb, who died during the American Revolutionary War.... |
Attractions
- Golden GuitarGolden GuitarThe Big Golden Guitar is one of the many "big" attractions that can be found around Australia. Located in Tamworth, New South Wales, the monument is one of the best-known points of interest in New England New South Wales...
- PowerStation Museum
- Calala Cottage
- Tamworth Regional Gallery
- Tamworth Regional Botanic Gardens
Noteworthy Identities
Academic- Allan William Cripps – Pro Vice-Chancellor (Health) at Griffith UniversityGriffith UniversityGriffith University is a public, coeducational, research university located in the southeastern region of the Australian state of Queensland. The university has five satellite campuses located in the Gold Coast, Logan City and in the Brisbane suburbs of Mount Gravatt, Nathan and South Bank. Current...
; Author of 230 published scientific papers - Bronwyn DaviesBronwyn DaviesBronwyn Ramsay is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Rachel Friend. She made her first on-screen appearance on 7 July 1988. Bronwyn is the sister of Sharon Davies. Bronwyn fell in love with Henry Ramsay and when he left for New Zealand, she...
– Professor of Education at the University of Western SydneyUniversity of Western SydneyThe University of Western Sydney, also known as UWS, is a multi-campus university in the Greater Western region of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
; Author - Lyn Gorman (née Chaffey) – Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at Charles Sturt UniversityCharles Sturt UniversityCharles Sturt University is an Australian multi-campus university located in New South Wales, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory. It has campuses at Bathurst, Canberra, Albury-Wodonga, Dubbo, Goulburn, Orange, Wagga Wagga and Burlington, Ontario...
; Former Dean of the Faculty of Arts at Charles Sturt University; Head of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (1999–2002) at Brighton PolytechnicUniversity of BrightonThe University of Brighton is an English university of the United Kingdom, with a community of over 23,000 students and 2,600 staff based on campuses in Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings. It has one of the best teaching quality ratings in the UK and a strong research record, factors which...
(UK); Author - Michael J. Hiscox – Clarence Dillon Professor of International Affairs at Harvard UniversityHarvard UniversityHarvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
- Michael John Kilborn – Rhodes Scholar (1985)
- Robert Henry Tufrey Smith AMOrder of AustraliaThe Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
– ChancellorChancellorChancellor is the title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the Cancellarii of Roman courts of justice—ushers who sat at the cancelli or lattice work screens of a basilica or law court, which separated the judge and counsel from the...
of the University of BallaratUniversity of BallaratThe University of Ballarat is a dual-sector university in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. It was formed by the passage of an Act of the Victorian Parliament in 1994, from the Ballarat College of Advanced Education...
; EmeritusEmeritusEmeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
Professor at the University of New EnglandUniversity of New England, AustraliaThe University of New England is an Australian public university with approximately 18,000 higher education students. Its original and main campus is located in the city of Armidale in northern New South Wales....
Arts, entertainment and media
- Kurt Bailey – Drummer formerly of Chasing Bailey, now Tigertown
- Arthur Blanch – Golden GuitarCountry Music Awards of AustraliaThe CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia is an annual awards night held in January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival, in Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia celebrating recording excellence in the Australian country music industry. They are wholly owned and staged by the Country Music...
winning Country music singer; Inducted into the Country Music Roll of Renown - Charlene Collins formerly Bailey – Lead singer and guitarist formerly of Chasing Bailey, now Tigertown
- Dan Conway – Solo singer/songwriter, guitarist ; 2011 Australia's got Talent. Former member Chasing Bailey
- Pixie Jenkins – Musician; Golden Guitar winning fiddler
- Stuart Maunder – Director of Opera AustraliaOpera AustraliaOpera Australia is the principal opera company in Australia. Based in Sydney, its performance season at the Sydney Opera House runs for approximately eight months of the year, with the remainder of its time spent in the The Arts Centre in Melbourne...
- Bill Admans – Hollywood Film & Television Editor & Visual Effects Artist
- Mark FergusonMark Ferguson (television presenter)Mark Ferguson is a news presenter.Ferguson is currently presenting the weekend Sydney bulletin for Seven News in Sydney and Seven 4.30 News on Thursday & Friday, due to Samantha Armytage's commitments with Weekend Sunrise....
– Nine Network presenter. - Belinda GiblinBelinda GiblinBelinda Giblin is an Australian actress.She played Kay Webster in the risqué, satirical 1970s soap opera The Box, and the scheming Alison Carr in the 1980s melodrama Sons and Daughters...
– Actress - Kylie GilliesKylie GilliesKylie Gillies is a television presenter for the Seven Network based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. She currently co-hosts The Morning Show with Larry Emdur.-Career:...
– Seven Network presenter and co-host of The Morning ShowThe Morning Show (TV program)The Morning Show is an Australian morning talk show that premiered on the Seven Network on 18 June 2007. The show airs between 9am and 11:30am weekdays and follows Seven's breakfast news program Sunrise, with both programs closely interlinked.... - Tony MartinTony Martin (actor)Tony Martin is an Australian actor. He married Rachael Blake on 21 December 2003. His son, Justin, is also an actor, with appearances in Somersault and Blue Water High to his credit....
– Actor - Felicity UrquhartFelicity UrquhartFelicity Ann Urquhart is an Australian country music singer-songwriter, sometimes seen as Felicity . Her single "Big Black Cloud", co-written with Randy Scruggs, reached No. 1 on Country Tracks National Top 30 Singles Chart in 2007. She has won numerous awards including a Centenary Medal...
– Country singer/songwriter - Philip QuastPhilip QuastPhilip Quast is an Australian actor perhaps best known for his role as Inspector Javert in the stage musical version of Les Misérables, or for appearances in numerous Australian soap operas including Sons and Daughters, The Young Doctors and Police Rescue.-Personal life:Quast was born in 1957 in...
- Singer - Crystal Wilkinson formerly Bailey- Harmony vocals, keys, electric mandolin of Chasing Bailey, now Tigertown
Business
- David Rodney Mazitelli – Principal of Mazitelli Pty Ltd; Commissioner, Tourism Western Australia; Board Member, Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre; Board Member, Perth Convention Bureau; Former Chairman of Australian Tourism Export Council; Former Executive Director of the Federal Department for Tourism
- Richard McPhail – Director of Gresham Partners Ltd; Former Director of The Franked Income Fund; Former Associate Director of RothschildN M Rothschild & SonsN M Rothschild & Sons is a private investment banking company, belonging to the Rothschild family...
Australia Ltd; Former Treasurer of the Tattersalls Club (Sydney) - Geoffrey Lee Miller AOOrder of AustraliaThe Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
– Principal of GCM Strategic Services Pty Limited; Chair of Farmshed Ventures Pty Ltd, and Beeline Technologies Inc. (USA); Chair of the Board of Trustees of the International Food Policy Research InstituteInternational Food Policy Research InstituteThe International Food Policy Research Institute is an international agricultural research center founded in the early 1970s to improve the understanding of national agricultural and food policies to promote the adoption of innovations in agricultural technology...
(Washington DC); Director of Agrilink, Agsystems Pty Ltd, and JEM Bonds Ltd; Chair of Value Added Wheat CRC Ltd
Medicine and science
- Dr Michael Kilborn – Specialist cardiologist at Royal Prince Alfred HospitalRoyal Prince Alfred HospitalThe Royal Prince Alfred Hospital is a major public teaching hospital in Sydney, Australia, located on Missenden Road in Camperdown...
; Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of SydneyUniversity of SydneyThe University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
and now works at a top medical magazine in London - Dr. David J Adams of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK; Cancer Genetics, Genome Sequencing and Genetic Engineering
Politics, public service and the law
- Shirley Margaret Adams OAMOrder of AustraliaThe Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
– CouncillorCouncillorA councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
of Clarence Valley Council; Deputy Mayor of Clarence Valley Council (2005–07); Chairman of the NSW Country Mayors Association (2002–04), Mayor of Grafton CityGrafton, New South WalesThe city of Grafton is the commercial hub of the Clarence River Valley. Established in 1851, Grafton features many historic buildings and tree-lined streets. Located approximately 630 kilometres north of Sydney and 340 km south of Brisbane, Grafton and the Clarence Valley can be reached...
Council (1996–2004); Recipient of the Centenary MedalCentenary MedalThe Centenary Medal is an award created by the Australian Government in 2001. It was established to commemorate the Centenary of Federation of Australia and to honour people who have made a contribution to Australian society or government...
2003 - Mark CoultonMark CoultonMark Maclean Coulton , an Australian federal politician, is a Member of the Australian House of Representatives representing the seat of Parkes, New South Wales, for the National Party of Australia...
– Politician; Member for ParkesDivision of ParkesThe Division of Parkes is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. The largest electorate in the state, it is located in the far north of the state, and adjoining the border with Queensland. Its largest population centre is Dubbo...
(National PartyNational Party of AustraliaThe National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
); Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Ageing and the Voluntary Sector - Tony WindsorTony WindsorAntony Harold Curties "Tony" Windsor , an Australian politician, is an independent member of the House of Representatives since 2001, representing the Division of New England, New South Wales...
– Politician; Independent member of the House of RepresentativesAustralian House of RepresentativesThe House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
, representing the Division of New EnglandDivision of New EnglandThe Division of New England is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. It is located in the north-east of the state, adjoining the border with Queensland. It includes such towns as Armidale, Ashford, Barraba, Bingara, Bundarra, Glen Innes, Gunnedah, Guyra, Inverell,... - Andrew WilkieAndrew WilkieAndrew Damien Wilkie is an Australian politician and independent federal member for Denison...
- Kevin HumphriesKevin HumphriesKevin John Humphries is an Australian politician and National Party of Australia member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. He has represented the Barwon since 24 March 2007...
– Australian politician and National Party of AustraliaNational Party of AustraliaThe National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
member of the New South Wales Legislative AssemblyNew South Wales Legislative AssemblyThe Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
.
Sport
- George Barton – Olympic shooter
- Geoff Chapman – Rugby UnionRugby unionRugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player (WallabiesAustralia national rugby union teamThe Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
); Horse trainer - Clive Barton Commonwealth gold medallist Skeet Shooting
- Troy HearfieldTroy HearfieldTroy Hearfield is an attacking football midfielder who currently plays for Central Coast Mariners in the A-League.Married to Deanne Hearfield.-Club career:Hearfield signed for Newcastle Jets in 2006...
– Association Football; Attacking Midfielder for Central Coast Mariners - Craig JonesCraig Jones (cricketer)Craig Jones was an Australian cricketer. He was a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-fast bowler who played for Middlesex in 2005. He was born in Tamworth, New South Wales....
– Cricketer - Tom Learoyd-LahrsTom Learoyd-LahrsTom Learoyd-Lahrs is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Canberra Raiders of the National Rugby League competition...
– Rugby leagueRugby leagueRugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
player for the Brisbane BroncosBrisbane BroncosThe Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
and Canberra RaidersCanberra RaidersThe Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982... - Greg McNamaraGreg McNamaraGreg McNamara was an Australian Boxer. He was born in Tamworth, New South Wales and was Australian Light-Heavyweight Boxing Champion.- External links :*...
former Australian Light-Heavyweight Boxing Champion - Matthew SmithMatthew Smith (field hockey)Matthew John Smith is a former field hockey player from Australia, who was a member of the Men's National Hockey Team that won the bronze medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. He played club hockey for the North Coast Raiders.-References:*...
– Hockey bronze medallist at the Atlanta OlympicsAustralia at the 1996 Summer OlympicsAustralia competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States. Australia sent a record team of 424 athletes, 254 men and 170 women, to the Atlanta Games. Most notable is the number of women, easily more than double the then-record 74 women who had competed in Seoul just eight years earlier... - Matt ParsonsMatt ParsonsMatt Parsons is an Australian retired professional rugby league player of the 1990s and 2000s. He played at prop for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, then the Newcastle Knights, with whom he won the 2001 NRL Premiership...
– former rugby league player for the Newcastle Knights - Emelyn StarrEmelyn StarrEmelyn Starr is an Australian professional tennis player. Her highest WTA singles ranking is 370, which she reached on 3 August 2009...
– Australian professional tennis player. - Richard SwainRichard SwainRichard Swain is a retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. A New Zealand international representative Hooker, he played club football in Australia for the Hunter Mariners, Melbourne Storm and Brisbane Broncos and in England for Hull.-Early years:Swain went to Farrer...
– Rugby league player for the Hunter MarinersHunter MarinersThe Hunter Mariners were an Australian rugby league club based in the Hunter Valley region's largest city, Newcastle. Hunter was formed in mid 1995 and was later disbanded at the end of 1997. The club was formed because of the Super League war, which was the rivalry between the traditional...
, Melbourne StormMelbourne StormThe Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
, Brisbane BroncosBrisbane BroncosThe Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
and the New ZealandNew Zealand national rugby league teamThe New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
national side - Brad TigheBrad TigheBradley Tighe is an Indigenous Australian professional rugby league player for the Penrith Panthers in the National Rugby League competition. He previously played for the Newcastle Knights. His position is ....
– Rugby League player; centre wing Penrith Panthers - Josh HazlewoodJosh HazlewoodJosh Reginald Hazlewood is an Australian cricketer for New South Wales and Australia.He began his career young, making his state debut at the age of 17 at the Sydney Cricket Ground against the touring New Zealand side in November 2008...
– Cricket – Member of Senior NSW team and Australia Youth Teams - Alan TongueAlan TongueAlan Tongue in is a retired professional rugby league footballer of the 2000s and 2010s. A Country New South Wales representative forward, he captained of the Canberra Raiders for several seasons in the National Rugby League competition.-Early years:While attending Farrer Memorial Agricultural...
– Rugby league player; Current captain of the Canberra RaidersCanberra RaidersThe Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982... - Peter WorsleyPeter WorsleyPeter Maurice Worsley is a noted British sociologist and social anthropologist.He is a major figure in both anthropology and sociology, and is noted for introducing the term third world into English...
– ParalympicParalympic GamesThe Paralympic Games are a major international multi-sport event where athletes with a physical disability compete; this includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and Cerebral Palsy. There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which are held immediately following their...
Rifle Shooter (Atlanta1996 Summer ParalympicsThe 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta, USA were held from 16 August to 25 August. It was the first Paralympics to get mass media sponsorship, and had a budget of USD $81 million....
, Sydney2000 Summer ParalympicsThe 2000 Paralympic Games were held in Sydney, Australia, from 18 October to 29 October. The eleventh Summer Paralympic Games, an estimated 3800 athletes took part in the Sydney programme. They commenced with the opening ceremony on 18 October 2000...
and Athens2004 Summer ParalympicsThe 2004 Summer Paralympics were held in Athens, Greece, from September 17 to September 28. The twelfth Paralympic Games, an estimated 4,000 athletes took part in the Athens programme, with ages ranging from 11 to 66. Paralympic events had already taken place during the 2004 Summer Olympics as...
) - Michael YorkMichael York (field hockey player)Michael John York is a former field hockey defender from Australia, who participated in four Summer Olympics for his native country, starting in 1988. From 1992 on, at each appearance the skilled veteran won a medal.-References:* * *...
– Olympic Hockey Gold Medalist
External links
- Tamworth Regional Development Corporation (Joint Website between Tamworth Regional Council and Businesses of Tamworth)
- Tamworth Portal (incl. Tamworth Regional Council's Website)
- Tourism Tamworth
- Northern Daily Leader – Newspaper
- 2YOU FM Community Radio 88.9FM
- Tamworth Regional Conservatorium of Music
- Country Music Festival Page
- Collection of photos taken by Bob Miller in 1995. Held in Pictures Branch at National Library of Australia, Canberra
- TAFE New England Institute website