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Tamworth is a city in the New England region of
New South Wales, Australia. Straddling the Peel
River, Tamworth with an urban population of 42,501
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
Southern Hemisphere to utilise electric street
lights.
Geography
Tamworth is located on the western side of the Great
Dividing Range, 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.
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.
Aviation
The latter 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 for both airline and defence
force graduates. The BAE Systems 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 Singapore Air Force. The Australasian
Pacific Aeronautical College and New England
Institute of TAFE in the city also provide
aeronautical training..
.Agriculture
Orchard outside Tamworth during Winter
King George Avenue near the Peel River where many
farms are locatedAgriculture 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.
Retail
Tamworth is the largest and main retail centre for
the New England 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 neighborhood
suburbs. Shopping Centres include:
Tamworth City Plaza - Is located in the Tamworth
Central Business District (CBD) with 42 shops
including Coles, Kmart.
Centrepoint Shopping Centre - A $35 million shopping
centre that began construction in early 2007 and was
completed by Christmas 2008 behind the Tamworth Town
Hall, in the Tamworth Central Business District
between the old city library and behind the
specialty shops in the main street Peel st. The
Centre contains a Franklins 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 specialty shops.
The Atrium - Formerly known as the Tamworth Arcade,
and is located in the Tamworth Central Business
District 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 specialty shops, including a food court and
anchored by Woolworths and Big W.
Northgate Shopping Centre - Situated in North
Tamworth [[Coles Supermarkets|Coles] is located
inside the centre as well as 18 specialty shops. The
centre has been recently redevelopment with the
supermarket being enlarged, changing from a Bi-Lo to
Coles, and the inclusion of more specialty shops in
the centre.
Southgate Shopping Centre - Situated in South
Tamworth Bi-Lo 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 specialty shops
and an IGA supermarket.
Other shopping complexes in Tamworth include Robert
St Shopping Centre, and the Longyard Homemakers
centre.
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