Living in Armidale is easy to imagine. Imagine the beautiful home that you would buy for a fraction of the cost of a home in Sydney. Imagine getting to work in 5 minutes, with no traffic jams to contend with. Think about your children walking to school, just around the corner from your home and not feeling worried. Imagine working in an environment where you have the time to see your child receive an award at school. Imagine not having to worry about water restrictions and think how your garden will blossom. Living in Armidale is not a figment of your imagination, it is an everyday reality for thousands of people.
Armidale’s strengths lie in its educational, agricultural, retail and professional services, and it is these industry sectors that provide vital employment for a significant portion of the local labour force. This positions Armidale as a knowledge-based regional service centre with significant economic potential which has achieved a sustainable average annual growth rate of about 1 per cent in each of the past five years.
Armidale differs from most inland regional centres because it has a long established university, transforming it from a rural town to a sophisticated and cosmopolitan city. Through the University, TAFE, fine independent and public schools the city has become a significant education centre, creating a wider range of jobs and business opportunities than usually found in the country. It has a well educated and diverse population who stimulate change and demand a high standard of living.
The University of New England has established a Medical School with an intake of 60 students each year. As a result Armidale has attracted more medical specialists than ever before and the local hospital will be upgraded for tertiary teaching purposes. The Armidale Private Hospital is also located in the grounds of the public hospital and has been rated amongst the top performing private hospitals in NSW.
Armidale has the best regional art gallery in NSW outside the main metropolitan cities with major collections valued at over $40 million. The city has a twin cinema which shows mainstream and art house movies. There is the New England Conservatorium of Music, a Symphony Orchestra, a Youth Orchestra, a biennial Bach Festival and several choral groups. The Armidale Drama & Musical Society, Stage One Theatre for Children and the University of New England Department of Theatre Studies perform regularly during the year.
The city has first class sporting facilities. For those who like the outdoors there are hobby farms on the outskirts of the city to follow rural pursuits, bushwalking in nearby world heritage national parks, trout fishing, white water rafting, sailing in Malpas Dam, Heli-fishing, canyoning and abseiling to name but a few!
As for business, there are many successful business enterprises in Armidale related to university research and education, to farming and grazing, professional services, retail, manufacturing and information technology. Armidale is the first city in mainland Australia to be fully fibred under the National Broadband Network (NBN) program. Many Armidale businesses are involved in thriving global ventures. We welcome your interest and inquiries and encourage you to come here to live, work and invest.
Guyra
Part of the Armidale Dumaresq region, Guyra is a vibrant community centred amidst wild and wonderful natural attractions with a friendly, village atmosphere. A town of 2,200 people and a Shire population of around 4,800.
The Guyra District is unique becasue it is situated on the uppermost plateau of the Great Dividing Range in northern New South Wales; from which land falls away to both east and west. Guyra is roughly half way between Brisbane and Sydney, so its only a 5 hour trip to either capital city.
Guyra is a vibrant community with many business and employment opportunities. One well known business is Blush Tomato http://costagroup.com.au/.
For further information check out our eBrochure.
Annual events include the Lamb and Potato Festival in January, the Guyra Show and Clay Target Competition in February, the Guyra Cup Horse Race in March, the Guyra Gun Club Annual Open Competition in July, the NSW Open Shooting Competition and the Rodeo in November
