Everything here is Totally Tambo

Step back in time when you arrive in Tambo, enjoy the slower pace and all the history that the oldest town in the Central West has on offer.

Tambo has a relaxed atmosphere and visitors are encouraged to wander around and enjoy a self-guided walk along the banks of the Barcoo or around the town’s historical buildings. Meet and chat with local volunteers at the town’s heritage Post and Telegraph buildings where you can try your hand at Morse code and learn of the town’s rich history.

Take a picnic to the Tambo Dam where an abundance of birds will keep you entertained with their antics. In the middle of town the EE Parr Park has a well-equipped picnic area with a playground popular for little travellers needing to work off excess energy.

Across from the park, the Grassland Art Gallery is well worth a visit. This contemporary art space showcases artworks from local and regional artists. Exhibitions change every six to eight weeks so there is always something different to see. A trip to the outback teddy bear capital is not complete without a visit to the Tambo Teddies workshop. Here you’ll be able to see and buy pure wool teddies made on site by talented locals.

Make time to wander the attractive main street. Nothing is too far away in this little township and the attractions are all free.

Top Photo Opp Teddy’s Crossing Sign – the only one of its kind in Australia! #TotallyTambo

Tambo’s Top Five

Tambo Teddies Who would ever think that a teddy bear fit for royalty would have been created in the tiny outback town of Tambo?

But these bears are not just for royalty, Tambo Teddies take pride of place in homes all over the world and have made the little town of Tambo (population some 611) the ‘outback Teddy capital of Australia’. Tambo Teddies has literally put Tambo on the map!

You can find a soft and cuddly Bickie Bear for your newborn or a fully dressed Mr. Stockman teddy bear with his hat, swag and stock whip. Pop in and watch your bear come to life as they are lovingly made. As their personality emerges, each bear is individually named after a farming property in the Tambo district.

Don’t leave town without your own right, royal Tambo Teddy, your friend for life.

Grassland Art Gallery A contemporary cool and inviting exhibition space displaying a rotating exhibition program of locally produced and curated displays of diverse art works by regional artists and touring exhibitions.

A relaxing courtyard connects the Gallery and workshop spaces. Working with Cindy’s Coffee & Gifts (the next shop on the street), board games with coffee and cake delivered will be on offer in the courtyard in 2020. A haven to spend a few hours relaxing and playing board games with your travelling companions.

A small shop in the gallery foyer stocks unique handcrafted goods including pewter tableware, art cards, glass art and jewellery. Visitors may find a local landscape, a contemporary work or an item of giftware that will be an exclusive souvenir representative of their Outback trip.

Ben’s Chicken Races Every evening from 5.15pm at the Royal Carrangarra Hotel you can meet Ben the ‘chook trainer’ and his egg-citing ‘Ladies’.

GRASSLAND ART GALLERY

BEN’S CHICKEN RACES

What visitors have to say about Tambo: We spent a wonderful four days in Tambo. Teddy bought, chicken races were fun. Food at both Cafes great. Some four wheel driving, lovely sunsets, free camping as well. Friendly people everywhere. We learnt that Tambo was worth visiting. Thanks Tambo! Graeme Raine July 6th, 2018

Stay Connected Free WIFI throughout the town

PICTURED FROM TOP GRASSLAND ART GALLERY · TAMBO HERITAGE PRECINCT · TAMBO DAM

Ben will introduce each of the ‘girls’ and provide a summary of their current racing form. If you can bid high enough at the auction, you can own a brightly coloured chicken for the duration of the race.

Eight hens will compete, chasing a little cart filled with tasty delicacies around the course for four laps before the champion chick crosses the finish line.

Hilarious fun, but the best part is the chooks are auctioned off to raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Ben’s chickens race seven days a week from May through to October.

Tambo Dam At the southern end of Tambo, you’ll find the Tambo Dam and parklands.

A great place to spend time relaxing on the grassy banks with a picnic or sizzle up a sausage on one of the free barbecues.

The area is a wonderful habitat for water birds and local wildlife. The dam provides many spectacular sunrises reflected across the water and is a bird watcher’s paradise with black swans and cygnets being found at certain times of the year. Pelicans also make this area home for a few weeks of the year as well and brolgas can often be found around the water’s edge. If you enjoy a nice stroll, then hit the pathway that winds through the trees and leads to an outdoor gym which is free for all to use. This popular walkway connects with the nature walk, the Coolibah Walk, which skirts the Barcoo River. Pull up, rest, relax and enjoy a break.

Tambo Heritage Precinct Discover stories of the oldest town in the west at Tambo’s Heritage Precinct. The buildings were originally the town’s Post and Telegraph Offices, and Tambo played a vital role in the early telegraph system linking the north of Australia with the south.

Kick back in a squatter’s chair to listen to locals telling stories of the town’s goats, telephone exchange, Qantas’ only plane crash and old picture theatre on the DVD display. The smaller building houses the Post and Telegraph artefacts including an interactive Morse code display, which you can see and hear in operation as it taps a message out ready to send. While there you can try your hand at signalling – what’s faster, morse code or texting?

The Totally Tambo Heritage Group mans the buildings on a volunteer basis and love to have a chat and share their knowledge of Tambo’s history as well as events of today, #totallytambo.

And there’s more, don’t leave town without... z Stretching your legs on the Coolibah Walk, meandering along the banks of the Barcoo z Visiting the site of the only Qantas crash, a little known slice of history and Tambo’s dubious claim to fame z Checking out Wild’n’Woolly, our whimsical sculptural wool truck by artist Christopher Trotter z Learning the story of the notoriously unreliable fire engine, ‘Flo’ z Enjoying an evening stubby or two catching up with your fellow travellers at Stubby Bend, Tambo’s free river camp