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Relocating to Armidale is proving to be an increasingly attractive proposition, with more than n 20 families moving to the city since the Evocities campaign kicked off 16 months ago.
T
he campaign sees seven of There is the New England Conservatorium NSW’s leading regional cities of Music, a Symphony Orchestra, a Youth uniting to encourage people Orchestra, a biennial Bach Festival and several to live, work and invest in an choral groups. The Armidale Playhouse Evocity. Taking a closer look at Theatre, Armidale Musical Society, Stage One our city, it is easy to see why Armidale is so Theatre for Children and the University of attractive to people who are seeking a ‘city New England Department of Theatre Studies change’ to improve their life. perform regularly during the year. Armidale is considered the ‘capital’ of the Armidale’s leisure and dining scene New England region of northern New is buzzing with a fantastic selection of South Wales and is undergoing hotels, clubs, cafés and established a revival as a regional restaurants to choose from. economic force. Located Sporting facilities are also in halfway between abundance, with numerous its t gs on Am ns, Sydney and Brisbane sporting clubs, grounds many attractioth e on the New England and venues catering for a Armidale hasart best regional , with Highway, Armidale wide variety of sports and gallery in NSW ns is a cosmopolitan activities. io ct lle major co 0 $4 er city that is home to With median house prices ov at ed lu va the University of New in Armidale approximately million... England and many $295,000, it is possible to other fine educational own a beautiful home that can institutions. be bought for a fraction of the cost Armidale has been of a home in a major city. Commuting acknowledged as one of only 20 cities in to work from home can also be substantially Australia with an abundant, long-term easier, with no traffic jams to contend with. water supply, and its cool mountain climate Thanks to Armidale’s extensive range of is regarded as a major environmental asset education facilities, it is also easier for children against a backdrop of climate-change issues. to get to school, without parents having Armidale’s strengths lie in its educational, to worry about long bus routes or safety agricultural, retail and professional services, concerns associated with living in major cities. and it is these industry sectors that provide Education is Armidale’s largest employer vital employment for a significant portion of and drawcard. Armidale differs from most the local labour force. This positions Armidale regional centres, because it has a long as a knowledge-based regional service centre established university, transforming it with significant economic potential, which has from a rural town to a sophisticated and achieved a sustainable average annual growth cosmopolitan city. Through the university, rate of about 1 per cent in each of the past TAFE, private and public schools, the city has five years. become a significant centre of education, Among its many attractions, Armidale creating a wider range of jobs and business has the best regional art gallery in NSW, opportunities than usually found in the with major collections valued at over $40 regions. It has a well educated and diverse million, as well as a twin cinema which shows population, who stimulate change and mainstream and art house movies. demand a high standard of living. new england focus
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