About Tara Newsagency
The Tara Newsagency is owned and run by Gayle and David Porter. You will find a great range of stock including magazines, newspapers, lotto tickets, scratchies, postcards, occasion cards and birthday cards.
We also stock a large variety of other items including books, puzzles, key rings, fridge magnets, car stickers, badges, gifts and knick-knacks.
You can also purchase sunhats, colourful lightweight scarves – ideal for keeping the sun off heads and shoulders, and accessorising any outfit – plus a range of Tara souvenirs including stubbie holders, water bottles, keyrings, mugs, glasses, baseball caps and pin badges.
Come in and see us, say g'day, and find something to remind you of your visit! We can even arrange to post it for you if you don’t want to carry it with you.
We share the land with the Barunggam people and acknowledge their elders, past, present and emerging.
Local shopping & amenities in Tara
Tara may not be the biggest place in the world, but we are proud of our little town. It is home, and you are very welcome to share it with us, even for just a few days.
In town, you will find many of the essentials for living – a good-sized Foodworks, two service stations, a car mechanic, a rural supplies shop, a hardware store, GP Clinic, hospital, pharmacy, bowls club, swimming pool, two churches, café, a newsagent, a bakery, a library (with free internet), hairdressers, a hospital, post fffice, three op shops, a men’s shed, a pub, and a bottle shop.
Local attractions in Tara
But there are also many ‘not quite so obvious’ things dotted around the town, and we would love it if you took the time to walk around and see what you can find.
For example, we are an RV friendly town, and offer a great camp alongside the Lagoon, right next to the Show Grounds. It’s a great place to watch the stunning sunset (it is magnificent every night!) and if you’re an early bird, see it rise up again the next morning. Or why not stargaze? Our skies are very dark, and with very little light pollution, and you’ll see millions of stars and planets, as well as the full range of the glorious Milky Way, that arcs right above us, and covers the whole sky.
There are three very boring white silos along the road just on the western edge of town. But take a look at night when its dark and the streetlights are on, and you’ll notice a huge change! But the best bit is, it cost us nothing!
Camping in Tara
The campground offers a good level grass area for you to pitch up and make yourself at home, the Council recently refurbished the amenities block; new loos, new showers, and also the RV dump point. And all are very clean and well lit.
They recently upgraded and added to the picnic areas right along the lagoon front for you to enjoy too. Shaded tables and chairs, and gas barbecues, all ready and waiting for you to use.
Then there is the fully enclosed kiddies play area, and an outside gym, where you can sit and pedal stationary bike whilst watching the ever present birdlife gliding over the water. Or if you don’t fancy the gym, how about following our lagoon-side walking track? An all paved, and flat cement path, it circumvents the water, under the shade of tall Red River gums and Coolabah trees, circuit of 2 kms, and with information and story boards along the route. A lovely way to start or finish the day.
The Walk of Remembrance & Tara Camel Races
Check out the Walk of Remembrance, right next to the camping area, plus the story of Tara at Settlers Park, next to the Walk of Remembrance. See the stone circle commemorating the seven original families who came from Victoria and settled here in 1907, then spot the streets in town named after them. Did you see the time capsule, due to be opened in 2032? Maybe you will come back for that?
You may also have heard that Tara holds camel races and Festival of Culture every other year, usually in August, and it is a big festival for us, a time when our little town really comes to life. Look for the wooden camel in Day Street, carved by creative chainsaw artist Matt George, and the metal panels enclosing the park, depicting scenes of Tara’s pastoral and agricultural character. What about the innovative way the Council has hidden the pumps used for watering the park? Or the emu in the bush. And check out our unique clock without numbers, outside the Council offices, corner of Day and Fry streets.