Tamworth, New England function venue

Midway between Sydney and Brisbane, the New England district offers much in the way of facilities and service.

If organisers have never considered the New England district in north-western New South Wales, now's the time to act. The university city of Armidale and the regional centre of Tamworth, just one hour south, anchor a region with considerable natural beauty and a wealth of attractions for corporate groups and associations.

>> Conference & meeting venues Tamworth

The city of Tamworth, with a population of 36,000 and renowned as the Australian country music capital, is located on the Peel River, a five hour drive from Sydney via the New England Highway. Continuing north, the highway connects with the Gold Coast and Brisbane. In late January, some 50,000 music fans flood into the city to enjoy countless concerts and other events.

Regularly hosting such a huge festival makes Tamworth an ideal choice for a conference. The city's large number of hotels, motels and conference venues are well versed in making visitors feel welcome. Aside from the many music-related museums and attractions, there are other activities, such as para-gliding, visiting the goldfields of Nundle, and fossicking for gems around Barraba.

The Quality Hotel Powerhouse, close to the CBD and only 12 kilometres from the airport, has 61 hotel guestrooms (4ý star) and 20 courtyard apartments (5 star), each of which sleeps up to six people. Conference facilities include the Courtney Room, which can seat 80 people theatre style or 60 for banquets, and the Mitchell Room for 80 people theatre style or 40 for banquets. Joined together, the maximum capacity is 200 people theatre style or 140 for banquets. Facilities include soundproof acoustics and vehicle access. A board room is available for smaller groups of up to 16 people for meetings.

GREAT FACILITIES

The Powerhouse has Wi-Fi capabilities throughout the guestrooms and conference space, a boon to the many meetings sourced from such markets as Sydney and Brisbane. Attached to the hotel is the outstanding Powerhouse Motorcycle Museum, billed as one of the most extensive collections of late 20th Century motorbikes in Australia.

The brainchild of Powerhouse owner, Greg Maguire, 20 years work has gone into the collection, which holds bikes from such major manufacturers as Ducati, Triumph and Honda. The Powerhouse Motorcycle Museum is a great place for a cocktail party or special event.

With a population of 25,000 people, Armidale is 578 kilometres from Sydney and 467 kilometres from Brisbane. It is easily accessible from Coffs Harbour via the Waterfall Way, and from Port Macquarie via the Oxley Highway. The large academic and student population generated by the University of New England gives the city a young and vibrant feel, as well as a vigorous arts community.