Tamworth 2010 Tamworth 2010 Tamworth 2010 Tamworth 2010 Tamworth                                                              

The 2010 National Show and Sale - The Road to Tamworth...

With planning underway for the 2010 National Show and Sale to be held at the Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre (AELEC) in Tamworth, 15 - 17 October 2010, we have added this page to our website to assist our fellow breeders with their planning for this event, because this is only the second time the Nationals have been in Tamworth (the first time being over ten years ago) and there are very few alpaca breeders in that immediate area.  Having Tamworth feature heavily in our family heritage, and still with significant ties to that area, we feel we can provide a wealth of information regarding the facilities and what you can expect from this city.  Check back regularly as we update the information.  If you have specific questions, please feel free to contact us, if we cannot provide the answer, we can more than likely find out.  To go to our contacts page [click here].

We will provide links to a range of accommodation options. most of which are reasonable, with price giving a fair indication of standard.  Although Tamworth is a large city, the city centre and most accommodation options are within a comfortable 10 to 20 minute drive from the venue, AELEC.  We will provide some information about places to eat, tourist activities within Tamworth and surrounding areas for those extending their visit.  These tourist activities include, but go beyond, Tamworth’s identity as Australia’s Country Music Capital (I have, nevertheless, included the obligatory photo of the guitar).

Whilst all care will be taken in putting this information together, it is provided as a guide so that you have somewhere to start when making your own enquiries and arrangements.     (images borrowed)     

The Road to Tamworth - Getting there

From North or South, via the New England Highway, or from East or West, via the Oxley Highway. You will find an interactive map at the bottom of this page.

Australian Equine & Livestock Events Centre

Here’s the drill about the facilities - info straight from the horse’s mouth, umm, website.  The Australian Equine and Livestock  Events Centre is an architecturally-designed multipurpose split level indoor stadium and events centre incorporating the Cattleman and Horseman Hall of Fame and Heritage Gardens. It has:

Indoor Arena - 40m x 80m plus 40m indoor warm up area        

Permanent seating for 3500 with corporate sections

Additional seating of up to 1500 on mezzanine level (Stage II)

Ticketing offices at main entry and exhibitor’s entry

Trade and exhibition area of 50 sites

Retail and souvenir shop

Outdoor trade and exhibition sites for field days and events

Bar and catering on concourse level

VIP bar and catering on second level overlooking arena and sale centre

Lift from lower ground level to concourse and VIP area

Sale centre with seating for 660, standing room for 400

Viewing screens, sound and lighting systems

Announcing/video control room

Judges room and competition office

Air-conditioned event management offices/meeting rooms

Educational theatre with demonstration area

Equipped lecture rooms

478 stables with wash bays (increasing to 700 in Stage II)

Two led-cattle pavilions housing up to 400 head

Campdraft arena

Two 30m by 70m outdoor competition or warm up arenas

Horse sporting fields

Show jumping and dressage areas

Undercover cattle handling facilities for 400 head

B-Double loading ramps and earthen unloading mounds

Undercroft stock holding yards for 200

Rodeo chutes

Toilet and shower facilities in stable complex with laundry facilities

195 powered camping/parking bays adjacent to stables

Truck wash

Additional camping and parking areas

Spectator parking at concourse level close to main entry

Extensive lawn areas for exhibitions and events

Disabled access and parking at both levels

Future site for the Tamworth P&A Annual Show

Accommodation options

[click here] - it will take you to a predefined search with a vast choice of accommodation options.  We thought this was easier than listing them!

Places to eat

[click here] - it will take you to a predefined search with a vast choice of restaurant options, what would we do without google?

Some local icons:

The Longyard - iconic Tamworth.  And it’s close to AELEC.

The Cattleman’s - another Tamworth favourite, close to the AELEC, with a function centre and motel accommodation. 

The Nemingha Hotel - shameless promotion for the ‘local’ - Jenni did the obligatory bar training here under their watchful eye.  Well priced chargrill (you cook) in a family friendly setting.

Joe Maguires - a local pub that has undergone significant changes in recent years.  The meals were  excellent - we haven’t been there for a couple of years.