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Armidale with its unique blend of culture, state of the art technology, educational diversity and natural beauty is a city offering everything worth living for. Situated in the country half way between Sydney and Brisbane and only two hours from the coast, it enjoys a warm summer, tones of amber during the autumn, a crisp winter and an exhilarating spring. Resting high on the Northern Tablelands, it is the most cosmopolitan NSW city outside Sydney catering for harmonious living for 22,000 citizens from 53 different nationalities.

CULTURES

Armidale has a truly international flavour. Its educational facilities have attracted students, academics and their families from all over the world adding a multicultural dimension to the city and events hosted by different ethnic groups add vitality, spice and colour making life in Armidale and enriching experience.

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CULTURE

For artists, musicians and those who are otherwise culturally inclined, Armidale offers unique opportunities. The New England Regional Art Museum, one of ten museums, houses the acclaimed Hinton and Coventry collections and regularly exhibits the works of promising up and coming artists. The Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place is just a short walk away. The Newling centre provides a focus for performing arts and the resident New England Theatre Company tours regularly with professional productions. Numerous other theatres present quality live performances.

There are cinemas and craft centres. Jazz, modern and classical music are provided by the Armidale Symphony Orchestra, the New England Symphonia, Musica Viva and an assortment of bands and visiting ensembles. Highlights of the year include the annual carnivals such as " Wool Expo " with the excitement of the "Wearable Wool Awards" which attracts entries from all round the South Pacific. There is a Poetry and Music Festival, the Autumn Festival and a May Fair amongst others.

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THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND

The University of New England at Armidale provides the total tertiary education package. Four faculties, Arts, Economics: Business and Law, Education : Health and Professional Studies and the Sciences offer degrees. Students can specialise in numerous fields including languages, music, Asian studies, agriculture, resource economics and engineering.

Being the oldest regional university in Australia, UNE has a tradition of excellence and fully residential colleges provide a life style conducive both to academic and social success. Accommodation can also be found in the University flats and in rented premises in town.

UNE campus offers a wide variety of services including the Union and the Sport UNE, libraries, student careers advisory services, part time employment for students, a students financial assistance scheme, academic skills centre, counselling services, student access and equity unit, medical services, computing facilities, the Oorala Aboriginal centre, the services of a chaplain and an international office. UNE caters for internal, external and mature age admissions and offers a large number of post graduate scholarships and degrees.

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SECONDARY EDUCATION

Armidale has two comprehensive high schools, Armidale and Duval Highs , O'Connor Catholic High and three independent fee-paying church boarding schools. Each of these six schools has particular areas of excellence. The academic staff at all are of the highest calibre. Consequently each year students who have sat for the Higher School Certificate Examination in Armidale gain distinction in individual subject areas as well as in their overall performances.

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PRIVATE SCHOOLS

The three independent schools in Armidale, each over 100 years old, cater for students from Kindergarten to Year 12. New England Girl's School, the largest girls' boarding school in the southern hemisphere, is renown for its riding school. In addition to the HSC it offers the International Baccalaureate which gives final year students entry to universities throughout the world. Presbyterian Ladies College Armidale has a reputation for the best academic achievements of any independent school in regional NSW and The Armidale School offers magnificent buildings and sporting facilities in addition to academic excellence. Each of these schools occupies spacious grounds close to the city centre and is exceptionally well equipped for extra-curricular activities.

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PRIMARY EDUCATION

Besides the three independent schools, there are numerous state schools providing education from Kindergarten to Year 6, a Catholic Primary school and a Steiner school. All main stream primary schools follow the same basic curriculum set by the NSW Board of Studies although individual schools place a greater emphasis on the observance of religion.

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PRESCHOOL EDUCATION

Preschool education for children aged 3 to 5 is provided by various church and community groups, by private individuals and the larger independent schools.

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EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES FOR THE YOUNG

Besides the vast range of extra-curricular activities provided by all the schools, Armidale boasts a host of activities in which tots to teenagers can become involved. There is the Police and Community Youth Club, the YMCA, the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides as well as church youth groups. There are numerous schools of ballet, drama, speech, aerobics, gymnastics and sporting clubs. There is the Armidale Youth Orchestra, the Armidale City Band and smaller ensembles in which budding musicians are encouraged to perform.

During vacations the National Parks & Wildlife Service arranges holiday programmes. Residential sporting camps hosted by the university colleges provide professional coaching for promising sportsmen and women and for those interested in riding the Armidale Horse and Pony Club stages both an annual camp and regular events throughout the year.

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SPORTING FACILITIES

With various indoor and outdoor facilities Armidale caters for almost every sport imaginable. There are many ovals and all-purpose sporting fields, 34 hectares in total of space throughout the town, where softball, cricket, hockey, netball and football are always in progress. Two heated swimming pools, one at UNE and one at TAS offer public access. The city pool complex with an Olympic and childrenís sized pool are open daily in the summer. Gym facilities are available at three locations with the UNE gym offering a sauna.

There are tennis courts, squash courts, an indoor cricket arena, a golf course and golf practice ranges. Trout fishing, abseiling, canoeing, white water rafting, cycling, gliding, parachuting, horse riding and bush walking are all available within half an hours drive.

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NATIONAL PARKS

Less than two hours drive from Armidale along sealed roads is the spectacular gorge country of the New England National Park. Included in the World Heritage List it offers views of magnificent unspoilt wilderness as far as the eye can see. The Oxley Wild Rivers National Park with its breathtaking panoramas is home to rare and endangered plant species as well as an extensive variety of other plant, bird and animal life. Both cater for easy walks to spectacular lookouts as well as providing more testing treks. At Dangars Lagoon, a wetland reserve close to Uralla, water birds can be viewed from a hide. The vast secluded Guy Fawkes National Park offers the sights and sounds of the Ebor Falls, grey kangaroos, wallaroos, wallabies and potoroos. Cathedral Rock National Park and the Dorrigo National Park are located in rugged but romantic country and offer a range of walks from 15 minute strolls to endurance expeditions that can take 2 or 3 days. A 200 kilometre drive along Waterfall Way from Armidale to the sunlit beaches at the coast provides an unique opportunity for viewing scenery ranging from mountain rainforests to coastal dunes in all their natural splendour.

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ABORIGINAL SITES

Armidale has been home to the Anaiwian aboriginal people for some 10,000 years. It was also a meeting place for the Thanghatti, Kamilori and Gumbaingirri tribes and an aboriginal painting site can be viewed on the slopes of Mount Yarrowyck 30 kilometres west of Armidale. The Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place houses a collection of artefacts that are the envy of other country regions as well as archival photographs and displays which open the visitorís eyes to the lifestyles, history, art and lore of the original Australians.

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ARMIDALE : A GOOD PLACE FOR BUSINESS INVESTMENT

There are few rural centres that can boast so many thriving young businesses. Last year the National Winner of the Telstra and Australian Government Small Business Awards for a firm with fewer than 10 employees was the Armidale company Petals. Also in the NSW top five was Veterinary Health Research established in Armidale in 1989. Many other small businesses have won acclamation for both the quality of their products and their innovation.

Communications being what they are Armidale offers a new wave of opportunities for establishing companies particularly as regards distance marketing. Advantages of not being constrained by the urban sprawl include road access to all major centres without having to go through a capital city, few overheads, clean air and clean water, a ready supply of skilled labour, excellent working relationships and low living costs.

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SHOPPING AND WALKING AROUND THE CITY

Armidale is noted for the quality and variety of its retail outlets and for its convenience of parking. The Central Business District located around the compact twin malls has a range of boutiques with fine quality clothing in different styles, jewellery, silver, leather goods, antiques, arts and crafts and other collectables. The large shopping chains and a host of smaller stores provide exotic and essential items and during a busy shopping spree the outdoor coffee shops offer a continental atmosphere in which to relax. Fine restaurants provide both style and class catering for those who prefer more sophistication.

The city offers a rich heritage for those who are willing to walk. The cathedrals, churches and other buildings are set among handsome parks and gardens. Victorian architecture is a feature of many of the prominent structures 35 of which are classified by the National Trust giving this rural city an unique blend of beauty of various kinds.

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ARMIDALE STATISTICS
ELEVATION: 980 metres TOTAL AREA: 34.5 SqKM
POPULATION: 22000 INDUSTRY: Education and Agriculture
STD TELEPHONE CODE: (02) 67 POSTCODE: 2350

CLIMATE:

Four quite distinct seasons. Temperatures range 12 to 27 degrees in warmer months and 0 to 16 in cooler months. Rainfall is summer oriented with an annual average of 800mm.

LOCATION:

Found on the New England Highway, 567Km north of Sydney, 467Km south of Brisbane and approximately 170Km inland from the coast.

TRANSPORT LINKS:

Daily rail service to Sydney; multiple coach services; Daily air services to Sydney and Brisbane.

SPORT & PLAYING FIELDS:

A total of 34 hectares of space.

PARKLAND:

35 hectares.
REAL ESTATE MARKET SUMMARY
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