:: About Tara

The Tara region is widely known for its diversity and friendly people. The region provides great lifestyle opportunities to those wanting to ‘make the move’ to a serene rural lifestyle without compromising services and facilities.

Over 3500 friendly country people have already made the move to the area, with no regrets. Residents can bask in a sub-tropical climate whilst enjoying the many leisure activities on offer for the entire family.

Investors are able enjoy the benefits of a booming economy, feeding off the gas exploration industry, with Tara being located in the Surat Basin.

The region encompasses many towns and settlements including Tara, Meandarra, Glenmorgan, The Gums, Moonie and Westmar. Tara, the main service centre has a population of 900 people and is located four hours west of Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, and a short two hour drive west of Toowoomba.

:: Industry

The Tara region was established on three of the strongest traditional rural industries in Australia – wool, grain and beef. Today, agriculture remains the dominant enterprise of the region with further diversification in the production of organic and exotic food items, jewellery, crafts and emerging agricultural industries such as emus, ostriches, red claw crayfish and mohair goats.

The Surat Developmental Road runs parallel to the entire Tara region joining the Moonie Highway to the east and the Surat township to the west of the region. The railway network continues to be used and is heavily relied upon for the transportation of grain during the harvest season. Public transport options are also available with Kynoch Coaches operating a bus service on regular basis. The two major aerodromes within the region are located at Tara and Meandarra with the airstrips being regularly used for recreational, medivac and crop spraying purposes.

Given the recent advances in telecommunications residents are able to access internet and mobile services, where they may have been unable to in the past. The Next G mobile phone service has greatly extended the mobile coverage available within the area. Internet services are also available, with the residents in Tara and Meandarra accessing broadband services and the remainder of the area connecting via dialup or satellite. The electricity provider for our region is Ergon Energy based in Dalby.

Whilst a large portion of the Tara region comprises high quality agricultural land, the area boasts one of the largest rural residential subdivisions in Queensland with approximately 2200 blocks ranging in size from 12ha to 40ha located to the north and north east of Tara.

The 'Tree Change' phenomenon is booming with more and more people making the change to an acreage lifestyle. Housing within Tara and surrounds remains affordable despite increasing gas exploration activity in and around the region. 3 bedroom houses are typically offered on the market between $115,000 and $250,000, vacant residential land is available from $37,400, whilst vacant industrial land is marked at an affordable price, starting at $49,000. Vacant rural residential land parcels (12ha) start at $30,000 and range up to $60,000.

:: Investment Opportunities

Both the Coutts Street Residential Estate and the Wilson Street Industrial Estate are currently being marketed through the local real estate agents.

As operating businesses in Chinchilla, Dalby, and Miles have become more expensive, the Tara region has become more attractive and affordable for those wishing to invest in a new business or industry and feed off the economic prosperity.

The Surat Basin Resources Boom is continually providing new employment opportunities, attracting more people to the area. The growth within the exploration industry is expected to continue well into the future.

The Tara region is continuing to benefit from this boom as both Tara and the rural residential subdivision area are located within close proximity to the exploration operations in the Chinchilla and Dalby areas.

:: Lifestyle

The region is serviced by the Chinchilla News, Dalby Herald and the Toowoomba Chronicle newspapers. Radio stations are also a widely used media source for the area, with the residents tuning into ABC Radio and Rebel FM. Television is also available with Channels 7, 9, 10, ABC and SBS accessible to the residents to the east of the area, whilst Channels 7 Central, ABC, SBS and Imparja are provided to those residents further west.

All of your shopping needs will be catered for, without having to leave the region. A variety of shopping facilities and services are available including Foodworks, National Australia Bank, Heritage Building Society Mini Branches, Post Offices, Hairdressers, Newsagencies, Hardware, Cafes, Motels, Hotels, Bowls Clubs, Golf Clubs, Pharmacy, Discount Shop, Builders Demolition and Hire, Bakery, Clothing, Gifts, Manchester and Haberdashery, Rural Supplies, Crafts, Cleaning service, Fuel, Movie Shop, Pool, Camping and Catering supplies, Mechanics, Laundromat, Sandblaster, Tyre services and Welding services.

The region is also supported by a variety of health and aged care services including the Tara Hospital, Tara Medical Centre, Tarcoola Retirement Village and the Tara and Meandarra Home and Community Care Centres. The Tara Medical Centre also services the towns of Meandarra and Moonie on a weekly basis. Glenmorgan medical services are provided by a visiting Doctor from Surat.

The Tara region offers the adults of the future outstanding education facilities. The Tara Shire State College provides education ranging from Preparatory School to Year 12. Tara is also home to a Catholic Primary School – St Josephs. State Primary Schools and Kindergartens are also accessible throughout the entire region. The C & K Tara Pre-Schooling Centre also offers outstanding daycare for children aged between 6 weeks and school age. Adult education is also no boundary to the services that are provided, with the Learning Network Queensland Centre based in Tara providing a range of short courses throughout the year.

Meeting and functions facilities are available throughout the area, including the Tara Memorial Hall and Function Room, QCWA facilities, Community Halls and the Moonie Rural Transaction Centre. The local hotels and motels are also only too happy to accommodate the needs of conference and meeting hosts.

Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture are all plentiful within the Tara Region. The area is home to many nationally and internationally recognised icons and identities. Namely, Myall Park Botanic Garden Ltd an internationally recognised botanic garden - boasting Queensland’s oldest collection of Australian semi-arid zone flora, Barbara Geisel world renowned wool picture artist, the famous Hugh Sawry paintings and the Moonie Oilfields which are still operational today.

The region also offers a range of options for the nature lover. Take a drive and explore the Southwood and Erringibba National Parks, The Gums Reserve, Meacle Family Walkway and Tara Lagoon Parklands which encompasses the Tara Lagoon Walkway, Settlers Park, Eloise O’Connell Park and Walk of Remembrance Garden.

Historians would also find a home in the region, in exploring the Tara and District Historical Society Museum, Meandarra ANZAC Memorial Museum (due for completion in late 2008), Monty's Garage Vintage Car Museum and the End of the Line at Glenmorgan.

Sport and Recreation opportunities are in abundance, with all members of the family able to participate in cricket, football, netball, squash, touch football, junior rugby league, tennis, golf, swimming, walking, lawn bowls, pony club, clay target shooting, polocrosse, campdraft, little athletics, sheepdog trials, horse racing, ballroom dancing and fishing. The region also has a very active social calendar, hosting the nationally recognised Tara Festival of Culture and Camel Races biennially. The Moonie Yabby Races, Tara Horse Races, Meandarra B&S Ball, Tara Apex Fishing Competition, Tara Rodeo, Hannaford Gymkhana and Family Fun Day, Tara Campdraft, Glenmorgan Campdrafts, Tara Show, Meandarra Show and the Tara Working Sheepdog Trials are held on annual basis.The many communities with the Tara region are very active and involved in the progress of the area. Opportunities always exist for more volunteers to join in and promote the area through the many sport and recreation clubs, arts and cultural clubs and development group.

 The arts and cultural groups are involved in the production of fine arts and crafts for distribution across the region and afar, some of which include patchwork, folk art, pottery and painting.

Local and State Government services are readily available through the Dalby Regional Council – Tara Customer Service Centre, Queensland Government Agency Program (QGAP) and the Tara Neighbourhood Centre.