Tamworth to Woolbrook NSW

Well this morning was our coldest so far about 4°C  in Buster but it only took a 30 mins cycle of the heater to get it up to a comfortable 18°C. As we drive out of Sheba Dam the parts of the paddocks that are in the shade still have frost on them. We drive through some beautiful countryside and stop to at the Chaffey Dam Lookout. 

Today’s destination is Tamworth, known as the Country Music Capital. The festival held here is reputed as the second largest in the world. It is also a thriving and prosperous service centre for the surrounding agriculture area in the New England region.We make a beeline for the Tourist Information Centre and of course we have to take a photo of the 12m high Big Golden Guitar. 

We notice some activity at Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre and we were told that we could just walk in and have a look …. So we did. There were no events in the impressive indoor arena but outside we watched some of the Stock Horse championships.

We must disclose that we aren’t avid country music buffs but we do know of a few singers so we made our way to the heart of Tamworth, parked up and walked in along the river through the Bicentennial Park. 

There were a few Art Sculptures to admirer. 

The Australian Light Horse Memorial made us reflect on the soldiers and horses that fought in WWI. 

The Country Music Pioneers Parade is a row of bronze busts commemorating some of the legends including Chad Morgan. (It’s an old saying in the family whilst we play our card game ‘May I’ ..” I have more gaps than Chad Morgan’s teeth”) 

Anyway… further along the road we came to the Hands of Fame, that honours individuals who have made an ongoing contribution to the country music industry. Its features over 330 .handprints. 

We venture up to the lovely tree lined Peel Street.

Along the street are bronze plaques inlaid into the footpath with the names of winners of the Australian country Music Awards. 

We also spot statues of Slim Dusty and Joy McKean, John Williamson and Smoky Dawson. 

The street is also lined with some lovely heritage buildings.

After some lunch and a visit to Bunnings we make our way out of town over the Moonbi Pass and then east along the Oxley Highway towards Walcha. We stopped in Woolbrook about 20km out in a quiet free camp beside the MacDonald River.