Tamworth lookout

Tamworth NSW 2340 (Pop 40 000 town & 55 000 region)

Tamworth is situated on the Peel River, 412 km n-w of Sydney in the New England region. Sitting at the intersection of the New England and Oxley Hwys, it is known as ‘The Country Music Capital’. Original inhabitants were the Kamilaroi Aborigines who named it ‘Calala’ meaning ‘place of battle’ and white squatters arrived in 1830.  Nearby gold finds (1851) and the railway (1878) contributed to the town’s economy. Today Tamworth is a busy commercial and service centre with a number of animal studs and several agricultural schools. Tamworth Markets 2^nd Sun each month. (10 day) Australasian Country Music Festival (Jan), Tamworth Agricultural Show (Mar), Australian Line Dance Festival (May) .and the Hats Off to Country Festival (July), Food & Wine Festival (Oct). Tamworth Country Theatre - a live radio broadcast concert held 3^rd Sat each month at 7.30 p.m.

Tourist Attractions & Info:
Walk a Country Mile Interpretive Centre, Peel St guitar-shaped centre with interesting displays and information on the history of country music. Tamworth Songwriters' Association Songwriter Tribute, (behind the centre). Hands of Fame Park, Kable Ave features over 200 country music star handprints and a Vampire aeroplane a memorial to the RAAF. Historic Tamworth includes Munro’s Mill (1863), Square Mann Inn (c.1877), Railway Station (1882). Powerhouse Museum, cnr Peel & Darling Sts located in the old power plant celebrating the fact that Tamworth was the first town in the Southern Hemisphere to get electric street lighting in 1888 with many electrical appliances and historic memorabilia. Open (9am-1pm) Tues-Fri. Australian Country Music Foundation Museum, Brisbane St. Open (10am-2pm) Mon-Sat with the Winners Walkway nearby dedicated to Golden Guitar Award winners. Country Music Heritage Hall and Heritage Museum, Bridge St photographic, costume & instrument collections of many of Australia’s country music greats. Open (10am-4pm) Tues-Sun. Calala Cottage, Denison St (1875) built for the town’s first mayor and featuring a reconstructed historic village. Open (10am-4pm) Tues-Fri and (10am-4pm) Sat & Sun. The Tamworth City Gallery, Marius St one of the state’s oldest and largest regional galleries. Open (9am-11.30am) weekdays and (1pm-4pm) Sat. Oxley Scenic Lookout, White St excellent city & valley views. Kamilaroi Walking Track (6.2 km/3 hr) begins at lookout to Endeavour Park along the ridge tops.

Nearby:
Big Golden Guitar Tourist Centre (6 km south) 12 m golden guitar replica of the Australasian Country Music Awards Trophy with The Gallery of Stars a country music star wax figure collection. Open (9am-5pm) daily. Oxley Memorial (6 km north) original anchor from explorer John Oxley’s ship, the Skylark where it crossed the Peel River on his exploration to the coast.

Accommodation:
Tamworth has almost 30 motels, 15 hotels, 4 holiday cottages/apartments and 5 caravan parks. Visitor Information Centre: 561 Peel St. Tel (02) 6767 5300.
 

Airport:

Tamworth Airport (TMW) Oxley Hwy. (10 km west of CBD).

Hospital:

Tamworth Base Hospital, Dean St, North Tamworth. Tel (02) 6767 7700.