A piece of Armidale history has been laid into the foundations of the University of New England’s new Tamworth campus, symbolically linking the university’s past with its future.
UNE Vice-Chancellor and CEO Professor Chris Moran placed a traditional Armidale blue brick into the foundations of the Tamworth Central campus on Wednesday.
The distinctive dark grey-blue bricks are a feature of Armidale’s heritage streetscapes and historic buildings, including UNE’s iconic Booloominbah homestead.
A traditional Tamworth red brick was placed alongside it, representing the university’s long-standing connection with the Tamworth community.
“Armidale is where UNE was founded but UNE has been a part of the Tamworth community for many decades,” Professor Moran said.
“They’re not competing stories — they’re chapters in the same book about what a regional university can be. This campus represents nearly a decade of planning, partnership, and persistence. It’s what happens when a university and a community decide together that the future is worth building.”
Construction of the new campus, at the corner of Peel and Roderick streets, is well underway after Central Coast-based North Construction & Building Pty Ltd was awarded the contract in late 2025.
The project has moved from the slab and substructure stage into construction of the building’s vertical structure.
The level one suspended slab was poured in early September, marking another major milestone.
The four-storey campus remains on track to open for teaching and learning in early 2028.
Professor Moran said UNE’s investment in Tamworth extended beyond the new building, with the university planning to employ more professional and academic staff in the city.
“We’re not waiting for the building to be finished to make an impact. In the coming months, we’ll be investing further in staff on the ground in Tamworth — people who are here to listen, to connect, and to continue delivering for this community,” he said.
UNE Director of Place Based Education and Research Professor Melanie Fillios said the university was already working to strengthen its connections with the community and local industries.
“We’ve made a significant investment in academic and professional staff whose roles are to connect and work with the Tamworth community now, and into the future,” she said.
“We’re in schools, we’re supporting our community through events and we are partnering with industry through pipelines to employment, research and professional learning opportunities.
“UNE has been in Tamworth for more than five decades and we’re looking forward to what more we can achieve in the decades to come,” she said.
The UNE Tamworth Central project is supported by $26.6 million from the NSW Government, along with contributions from UNE, Tamworth Regional Council and the Federal Government through the Job Ready Graduates program.
The four-storey building was designed by Architectus, with Touchstone Partners managing the project and North Construction & Building leading construction.
Don’t miss any of the important stories from around the region. Subscribe to our email list.