Arikah Map

Tamworth, New South Wales

Tamworth
New South Wales
Tamworth, New South Wales:Tamworth location map in New South Wales
Location of Tamworth
Population: 37,120
Established: 1850
Postcode: 2340
Elevation: 400 m
Location: 
420 km from Sydney
  • 280 km from Port Macquarie </ul>
    • LGA: Tamworth Regional Council
    State District: Tamworth, Barwon
    Federal Division: New England
    </td>
    Mean Max Temp Mean Min Temp Rainfall
    24.4 °C
    76 °F    		 10.2 °C
    50 °F    		 673.2 mm
    26.5 in

    Tamworth is the largest town in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. It is the major regional centre for southern New England and the seat of the Tamworth Regional Council local government area. Tamworth is nationally famous as the "Country Music Capital" of Australia, and is home to the annual Tamworth Country Music Festival.


    Contents

    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 400m 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.

    Tamworth occupies an area of 486.5km² as of 2003. Surrounding towns include Gunnedah, Willowtree, Uralla, and Nundle.

    Weather

    The mean daily maximum temperature is 24.4 °C and the mean annual rainfall is 673.2 mm. [1] The climate is generally warm to hot in summer and cool to mild in winter. 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 can occur in and around the Nundle region, occasionally during a winter cold snap. Occasional frosts are also experienced in winter.

    History

    The Kamilaroi people, from whose language comes the word "budgerigar", inhabited the area before European contact. John Oxley passed through the Peel Valley in 1818. In 1831, the first sheep and cattle stations were formed, and in the same year the Australian Agricultural Company (AAC) was granted a lease of 127,000 ha of land at Goonoo Goonoo, south of the present location of Tamworth, extending to present-day Calala. [2]

    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. [3]

    In 1888 Tamworth was the first town or city anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere to have municipally-operated electric street lighting, earning itself the title of "The City of Light".

    Timeline

    Demographics

    The estimated population of Tamworth City in June 2003 was 37,120. The City has now amalgamated with its neighbours, and the new Tamworth Regional Council had an estimated resident population of 54,522 in 2005 ABS. For statistical purposes, Tamworth is grouped with the part of Parry Shire containing the satellite town of Kootingal. The estimated total population of this combined Tamworth Statistical District at 2005 was 43,261 ABS.

    Suburbs

    Satellite Suburbs

    Economy

    Tamworth is primarily a service centre for the New England and North West regions, but its economy is diverse, supporting a number of industries, including primary and secondary food production, education, transport and 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 service and maintenance bases at the Tamworth Airport. More recently the area has become 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 pilot applicants, basic flight 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.

    Tourism is an important industry, worth over A$110 m annually [4], with by far the most significant draw being the annual Tamworth Country Music Festival, the biggest event of its type in Australia. During the week-long festival the town's population is said to more than double with revellers, who quickly fill up all the city's accommodations and spill over into tents set up on the flood plains.

    Transport

    Tamworth is situated on the Main North railway line. 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.

    Countrylink North Western
    Werris Creek↔Tamworth↔Kootingal

    Media

    Tamworth serves as the regional centre for media in the New England District. The Northern Daily Leader is a long-running daily local paper with significant local and regional coverage. The Tamworth Times is a free weekly. Both are owned by the Rural Press. NBN Television and Prime Television have studios in Tamworth that produce local news bulletins. Several radio stations are based in the city, including the country music-heavy 2TM, general community station 2YOU FM 88.9 FM, Christian community radio station Radio Rhema 89.7 FM, hit music station - FM 92.9 and the local ABC Local Radio station, ABC New England North West. The community radio stations both broadcast from Bald Hill, however Radio Rhema has a much stronger signal. 2YOU FM concentrates on older listeners, with a Country Music focus. This is made very apparent when listening during the Country Music Festival.Both FM 92.9 and 2TM are owned by the Caralis SuperNetwork, and go to satellite after 6pm at night, which has caused concern amongst locals for its lack of localism.

    Sports

    The local region has several strong sports competitions, including Football (soccer) Hockey, Rugby League, Rugby Union, AFL, Basketball and Cricket. Several national athletes can trace their sporting roots to the region such as Troy Hearfield, Michael York and Matthew Smith. The region has a number of excellent sporting facilities.

    Premier Sporting in the tamworth region include: water based hockey fields, a national standard BMX track (used for national competitions), an A grade shooting facility, international standard baseball and softball fields. The region boasts 60 sporting facilities covering more than 300 hectares.

    There are over 180 sporting clubs in the tamworth region.

    Country Music Festival

    Tamworth is best known for hosting the Country Music Festival. Held over 10 days during January, the festival is often counted among the world's top ten 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 the 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 a major attraction.

    The 10 day festival culminates in the Golden Guitar Awards - the most prestigous award that an Australian Country Music artist can win for their music. In honor of its country music Tamworth is home to the 'Big Golden Guitar', the wax museum and the hands of fame park of sucessful country music artists. Homegrown country music stars include Felicity Urquhart and up and coming promising talent the Baileys whos music style is a mixture of country, rock and other genres.

    It is by far one of the greatest festivals in Australia and the second biggest country music festival in the World (second to Nashville, USA).

    Churches

    Christian Churches of Tamworth include: (In alphabetical order)

    Schools

    Sister cities

    Tamworth has the following sister cities:

    See also

    References

    1. ^ Tamworth Profile (html). Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Retrieved on 23 May, 2006.

    Coordinates: 31°05′S 150°55′E


    Tamworth, New South Wales:Flag of New South Wales

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