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Tamworth New South Wales

Tamworth From the Oxley Scenic Lookout

Tamworth New South Wales

The country music capital of Australia, Tamworth is famous for its music festival and hall of fame. Although many of the town’s attractions associate themselves with country music, the historical buildings in the centre of town provide something else to see.

Located three and a half hours north of Newcastle, Tamworth is a great place to stop, whether it’s a rest break or a longer one to see the town’s attractions. This was our last stop on a road trip through Dubbo and Gunnedah.

Oxley Scenic Lookout

Overlooking town, the Oxley Lookout provides amazing views of the surrounding countryside. Named after the first European explorer to visit the area, the lookout also acknowledges the original inhabitants, with information boards providing information on the Kamilaroi people.

A great place for a break on your journey, if you don’t want to stop in the town centre. The large carpark allows plenty of space for parking, including caravans.

Bicentennial Park

Located in the city centre, with easy access, Bicentennial Park is a great place to relax, with ponds, grassed areas, a playground, and walking tracks. We walked from Peel Street where we had left our car, because this let us see the CBD as we walked. Starting at Fitzroy Street with the country music busts, we walked through the park enjoying the views.

Entrance to Bicentennial Park With Bust Of Country Artists
Entrance to Bicentennial Park With Bust Of Country Artists

Country Music

Reflecting Tamworth’s association with country music, a large section of the park had busts and other artwork dedicated to country musicians.

Sculptures

Scattered throughout the park we found several sculptures placed around ponds and in garden beds.

Waler Memorial

The Waler Monument commemorates the Australian Light Horse and depicts an Australian Trooper saying farewell to his Waler Horse in the deserts of the Middle East at the end of World War One.

In the early stages of World War One, they were mostly purchased from NSW which gave them the name of Walers, coined by the English.

The most famous of all feats of the Waler Horses at war was the Light Horse charge on Beersheba in 1917. The horses were without water for 48 hours in the hot Sinai Desert and then undertook a 4km cavalry charge across the burning plains to take Beersheba and its wells.

Tamworth Waler Memorial
Waler Memorial

Tamworth War Memorial

The War Memorial stands next to the Waler Monument and depicts service personnel on granite blocks. The names of those killed in battle are engraved on the plaque.

War Memorial
War Memorial

Man O’ War Gates

These interesting gates originally stood on Bennelong Point, but were removed with the construction of the Sydney Opera House. Purchased by a local family and gifted to the local Returned Servicemen’s League they now stand as a tribute to the Royal Australian Navy.

Man O' War Gates
Man O’ War Gates

The Australian Country Music Hall of Fame

The Australian Country Music Hall of Fame, features a collection of memorabilia from Australian country music artists. If you are a country music fan, this is a must visit while in town. Located on the corner of the New England Highway and Peel Street, makes it easy to find.

Tamworth City Centre

Dominican Convent Building

Now the local conservatorium of music, this old building dating from 1882 was once a convent. Now leased by the conservatorium, it is well maintained and preserved for future generations to admire.

Tamworth Conservatorium of Music in the Old Dominican Convent Building
Conservatorium of Music in the Old Dominican Convent Building

Saint Nicholas Catholic Church

Dating from 1877 Saint Nicholas Catholic Church is on the corner of White and Marius Streets.

Tamworth War Memorial Town Hall

Located in Fitzroy Street, the Tamworth War Memorial Town Hall was opened in 1934 as a memorial to Tamworth and district soldiers and war workers.

Tamworth War Memorial Town Hall Fitzroy St
Tamworth War Memorial Town Hall Fitzroy St

Slim Dusty Statue

The statue of Slim Dusty and his wife Joy McKean recognises the contribution the couple made to Australia’s music heritage. Located in busy Peel Street, it is easy to find.

Statue of Slim Dusty and Joy McKean
Statue of Slim Dusty and Joy McKean

Street Art

Wandering through the CBD, we came across several pieces of street art and sculptures. These reflect local culture, from the music festival, sport, bushrangers, and aboriginal heritage.

Buildings

Walking through the streets of the CBD we found some beautiful old buildings. Many have changed hands since being built but have managed to retain their character.

The Big Golden Guitar Tamworth

In keeping with the country music theme for Tamworth, its contribution to “Big Things” is a giant golden guitar. The golden guitar is presented to the winner of the Tamworth Country Music Festival, making this Big version appropriate. Located on the south side of town, it is one of the first things you will see if travelling from Sydney.

The Golden Guitar
The Golden Guitar

Roll of Renown

Located not far from the Big Golden Guitar, the Roll of Renown sits outside the Entertainment Centre. The award honours Australians and New Zealanders who have shaped the industry by making a significant and lasting contribution to Country Music.

Roll of Renown outside the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre
Roll of Renown outside the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

Goonoo Goonoo Station Tamworth

The Shearers' Quarters Exterior

Goonoo Goonoo Station

Our last night on our recent road trip was spent at Goonoo Goonoo Station (pronounced Gunna G’noo), south of Tamworth. Goonoo Goonoo means ‘running water over rocks in times of drought’ in the Kamilaroi language.

Access to the station is restricted to booked guests, but the Glasshouse Restaurant, is open to the public (book ahead as it is very popular). On arrival, either turn right at the gate if going to the restaurant or drive up to the gate and key in the code you would have been sent.

Still an operating cattle station, you will see might horses and cattle during you stay if you are lucky. During our visit, several horses were in nearby fields, which was great.

Accommodation

We stayed in the shearers’ quarters, which look rustic on the outside, but are modern and clean inside. Clean and modern, the interior is fully airconditioned and very comfortable. One side retains the old veranda, so you can relax outside and take in the scenery.

The Chapel

For weddings, Goonoo Goonoo has a beautiful chapel in the middle of the village, providing a great setting for that special day.

Village Buildings

On arrival, you get a map of the village and are encouraged to walk around, which was a great way to wind down before dinner at the restaurant. To get to the Glasshouse Restaurant, you either drive your car back out the main gate or take a short walk up the hill. We chose the latter as it was a beautiful evening.

Glasshouse Restaurant

Sitting on top of a hill the Glasshouse Restaurant has amazing views from its full-length glass windows. As the sun sets and you enjoy a great dinner, you get to take in the scenery. We loved the meals we ordered along with dessert and some nice cold drinks.

What Did We Think of Goonoo Goonoo Station?

This was a great place to finish our trip, with amazing accommodation and wonderful meal. We loved staying here, particularly the setting and the way the rooms have been refurbished from old workers sheds.

First Fleet Memorial Gardens Wallabadah

Picnic Shade Area, Designed to Resemble a Sailing Ship

First Fleet Memorial Gardens Wallabadah

We hadn’t intended to stop in Wallabadah, but on seeing the sign for the First Fleet Memorial Gardens, we decided to. This is the great thing about driving with no fixed appointments, because you can stop at any time and see something interesting.

Another interesting thing to discover is the amazing variety of place names in Australia. Many are unique, as they are based on the local aboriginal language. In this case, Wallabadah means stone in the Kamilaroi language.

The First Fleet Memorial Garden is a memorial to the First Fleet immigrants, by stonemason, Ray Collins. Carved on tablets along the garden pathways are 1,520 names of all those who came out to Australia on the eleven ships in 1788. The stories of those who arrived on the ships, are told throughout the garden.

Wandering through the gardens, you find the names grouped by the ship they arrived on, along with a history of the ship. This is great, as you do not just find a plain list of names, but some individual history, which adds interest.

A picnic area with a sunshade fashioned to look like a sailing ship is also in the gardens. This continues the theme of the First Fleet even further.

A car park off the highway offers a safe place to stop, while also providing toilet facilities. This was a fun, interesting, and unexpected place to find on our trip.