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In development · Tamworth NSW

First5Years Tamworth

A new First5Years centre is taking shape in Tamworth.

Designed together with developer Campbell McIntosh for children, families and educators in Tamworth.

Architectural render of First5Years Tamworth: a family crossing towards the centre entrance in daylight.

First5Years Tamworth, in development. Architectural render.

Tamworth

A regional city with an identity of its own.

Tamworth is a major regional centre shaped by agriculture, horses, 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 at dusk seen from the lookout, city lights spread across the valley with the ranges beyond.

Tamworth, NSW

The building

Designed together.

Architectural render of the First5Years Tamworth road elevation: a run of steep gables with timber battens and a deep verandah.

Architectural render, design in development.

Architectural render detail of the First5Years Tamworth entry gable in daylight.

Architectural 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 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.

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.

An orchard on the edge of Tamworth — rows of bare winter trees behind a wire fence and green pasture.

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.

Riders and horses outlined in coloured light during a night performance at the Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre, Tamworth.

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.

A band performing live on stage under coloured lights during the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

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.

Explore our approach

Playscape design

Coming soon

Dan Rimes Design · concept in development

Architectural render of the First5Years Tamworth verandah and yard side in daylight.

Architectural 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 and his team.

Our focus within it is the early learning centre, making sure it works properly for children, families and educators.

Wider precinct concept, First5Years forms one part of the development.

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.

Register your interest

First5Years Tamworth is in development. Architectural renders shown on this page are indicative of design intent.

Image credits