What to do and see in Tamworth, New South Wales: The Best Museums

Calala Cottage was built in 1875 as a Town House for Tamworth's first Mayor. The cottage is furnished with items mainly from the late Victorian period. The Museum Complex includes The Shepherd's Hut which is Tamworth's oldest building as well as the Heritage Award winning Beehive School. Bequests from notable Tamworth families enhance the exhibits.

In 1888, Tamworth became the first city in Australia to be lit by municipal electric street lighting. This important moment in national and local history is preserved at the Tamworth Powerstation Museum. Established in 1988, it is located on the site where the 1888 steam engines powered the street lighting system, and the 1907 Power Station / Municipal Electric Showroom building has been refurbished to display a range of unique exhibits. It is easy to overlook the important role electricity plays in our everyday lives. It has led to numerous developments in technology: from street lights and industrial machinery, to kitchen appliances and hair dryers. Tamworth Powerstation Museum is Australia’s only dedicated electrical museum. We invite you to join with us in exploring the history of electrical innovation.

The Powerhouse Motorcycle Museum in Tamworth, NSW is a must see for bike enthusiasts. The museum houses a private collection of over 50 motorcycles in pristine working order from the 50s, 60s, 70s & 80s. The collection of bikes includes Ducati, Triumph, Honda, Velocette, Laverda & an extremely rare limited edition F4 MV Agusta Series ORO. All motorcycles have been immaculately restored to concourse condition, plus there are some limited edition current models. Come & see one of the most unique & high quality displays of motorcycles in Australia. Fact profiles for each motorcycle are provided & the museum offers an extensive range of motorcycle souvenirs for sale. Our friendly attendants are on hand to assist with all enquiries. The Museum is open 9am to 5pm daily (closed Christmas Day) - $8 adult, $6 pensioner, $4 child, $16 family & includes complimentary tea/coffee. The Museum is the proud recipient of a 2019 Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence.

Located in the Country Music Capital, the Big Golden Guitar stands prominently on the New England Highway on the southern approach to Tamworth. With easy parking options for travellers in all vehicles from motorbikes and cars through to caravans and RVs, it's the perfect stop-off on your visit. The Big Golden Guitar is an Australian and Tamworth icon, which has been visited and photographed by literally hundreds of thousands of people, has featured in many film and TV documentaries and has served as a backdrop for a number of TV commercials. It was officially opened by country music star Slim Dusty and Mr Paul Crombie, General Manager of Tourism NSW, on January 25th 1988. It is a tribute to Tamworth’s rich country music heritage and international reputation as the heart of Australian country music, and is a replica of the famous Golden Guitar Award presented to artists at the annual Country Music Awards of Australia, the Toyota Golden Guitar Awards.

The Australian Country Music Hall of Fame is housed within a unique guitar-shaped building and home to extensive collections documenting the development of the Australian Country Music Industry and the story behind how Tamworth became known as the Country Music Capital. The complex includes Walk A Country Mile – an interactive exhibition, and other rotating displays.

Weswal Gallery is a commercial gallery showcasing local, regional and Australian artists and Australian designed and hand made products. The gallery has a regularly changing program of exhibitions and events.

The Gallery offers a rotating program of touring exhibitions of national significance, alongside curated exhibitions of works by regional artists and exhibitions from our permanent collection. Every year, Tamworth Regional Gallery delivers a rich and varied series of workshops, lectures, artist talks, events and engaging public programs. The Gallery houses purpose-built exhibition spaces, conservation collection storage, a retail shop, the Esther Halliday Studio and a research library, and is a fully accessible space. Tamworth Regional Gallery is the result of over 100 years of sustained support from our community, alongside forward planning and investment by Tamworth Regional Council.

Established in 1977, this park honours individuals who have made an ongoing contribution to the Australian country music industry and features over 250 handprints belonging to artists and other industry personalities. New “hands” are added each January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival.