History

Driven by an aim to capitalise on the potential economic benefits from a growing equine sports sector, work to build an equine super centre began when an official working group made up of community and industry delegates was formed in 2004.

Tamworth Regional Council supported the working group in finalising the proposal, pursuing funding, determining the ownership structure, identifying and securing the best site to realise the development and future growth of the equine and livestock industries.

Construction started in May 2007 and the project completed in August 2008 before its official opening was on Saturday, 21 February 2009 by Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir, Governor of New South Wales.

The first major event was the 2008 National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Futurity which ran from 27 September to 5 October 2008.

The initial Stage 1 development cost $28million funded by all three tiers of government: Tamworth Regional Council, the NSW Government and the Federal Government.

The Stage 1 architect was Timothy Court & Co, Sutton Forest, and the building contractor was National Buildplan Group Pty Ltd, Armidale. New post-tensioned steel technology that allowed the roof trusses to span 60m across the main arena was a unique feature of the design.