In development · Tamworth NSW
First5Years Tamworth
A new First5Years centre is taking shape in Tamworth.
Designed together with developer Campbell McIntosh, partner of TMH, and Hill Lockhart Architects for children, families and educators in Tamworth.
Tamworth
A regional city with an identity of its own.
Tamworth is a major regional centre shaped by agriculture, the equine industry, country music, healthcare and the communities it serves across northern inland NSW.
First5Years Tamworth should feel like it belongs here, not like a centre that could have been built anywhere.
Mel grew up on a farm and spent much of her early years travelling through country NSW competing in showjumping.
Tamworth, NSW
The building
Designed together.
Hill Lockhart Architects render, design in development.
Hill Lockhart Architects render, design in development.
The building is being delivered by developer Campbell McIntosh, who is country born and bred.
We have worked closely with Campbell and Hill Lockhart Architects on the centre design, bringing what we’ve learned through Emerald and Gladstone while responding to this site and Tamworth.
The aim is simple: a building that works well for children, families and educators.
Hill Lockhart Architects render, design in development.
Place
Tamworth is the starting point.
When we invited landscape architect Dan Rimes to design the playscape, the brief was simple: look to Tamworth itself.
The land, horses, country music and storytelling, and the working life of this regional city all provide starting points for landscape, movement and play.
Land
Tamworth sits within a productive agricultural region. The landscape gives the design a starting point in natural materials, planting, terrain, sand and water.
Agriculture / Tamworth
Horses
Horses are part of life here. For the playscape, the interesting ideas are movement, balance, rhythm, strength and physical confidence, not literal theming.
Equestrian life / Tamworth
Country music
The Tamworth Country Music Festival brings music, performance, storytelling and people together across the city.
In the playscape, that can become places to gather, perform, listen, make sound and tell stories.
Country music / Tamworth
The playscape
Designed for Tamworth.
Landscape architect Dan Rimes is now developing the Tamworth playscape from this brief.
The brief includes movement and physical challenge, nature and sensory play, imaginative play, gathering, quieter spaces and room for children to decide what happens next.
We’ll share the concept here as the design takes shape.
Playscape design
Coming soon
Dan Rimes Design · concept in development
Hill Lockhart Architects render, building and verandah design only. Playscape design in development.
The precinct
Part of a wider development.
First5Years Tamworth forms part of a wider precinct being developed by Campbell McIntosh, partner of TMH, and his team.
Our focus within it is the early learning centre, making sure it works properly for children, families and educators.
Tamworth precinct flythrough. Hill Lockhart Architects.
Project status
- Development approval
- Development approval has been granted by Tamworth Regional Council.
- Provider approval
- First5Years has received provider approval from the NSW Department of Education.
- Delivery
- First5Years Tamworth is planned for delivery in mid-2027, subject to Department of Education service approval.
- Location
- First5Years Tamworth is centrally located adjacent to Tamworth Regional Base Hospital.
First5Years Tamworth
Made for Tamworth.
First5Years Tamworth will share the same beliefs as our other centres, while the building and playscape are being developed specifically for this place.
First5Years Tamworth is in development. Architectural renders shown on this page are indicative of design intent.
Image credits
- Tamworth from the lookout — Connormill72 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
- Tamworth orchard — Thirdayparadise / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
- Electric Horsemen, AELEC — Cgoodwin / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
- Tamworth Country Music Festival performance — Jetty Road / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0