Background

Tara Showgrounds are located on Showgrounds Road neighbouring the beautiful Tara Lagoon Camping Area.

The Showgrounds are home to the Annual Show every March, the Tara Festival of Culture and Camel races every two years in August, Polocross, Tara Races, Campdraft, Senior Cricket and Easter Sheepdog Trials.

There are opportunities to bring new and exciting events to Tara to support the local economy and community and ensure long term success through site infrastructure needs and upgrades.

Where are we now?

Following consultation with user groups and broad community members, Council has endorsed the Tara Showgrounds Master Plans.

The master plans set out a clear and exciting vision for the future of the showgrounds, shaped through valuable input from the Tara community. 

What the Master Plans Will Deliver for Our Community

With the master plans now endorsed, Council is excited to move forward with a clear vision for the future of our showgrounds.

These plans will:

• Guide future upgrades and investment in showgrounds facilities

• Enhance community benefits by aligning with service standards

• Respond to the evolving needs of residents and visitors

Please note that while Council has endorsed the master plans, it is not committed to delivering any specific elements. User groups may choose to pursue projects within the plan, with Council considering its involvement on a case-by-case basis. Importantly, user groups can use the master plans to strengthen funding applications for initiatives included in the plan - helping bring your ideas to life with greater confidence and support.

Council will continue working closely with showgrounds users and the broader community to ensure priorities remain front and centre as we move into implementation.

In April 2024, Council began engaging with key stakeholders to help shape the future of the Tara Showgrounds.

Face-to-face discussions with our experienced consultants were held with stakeholders in Tara. Following these meetings, stakeholders were invited to complete a survey to share their views. The Tara engagement, including meetings and a survey, took place during April 2024.

Following this feedback, site investigations were carried out and master plan options were refined to inform the final plans.

These collaborative processes have helped ensure our showgrounds remain central to community life - supporting recreational, sporting, and cultural activities, while continuing to grow as vibrant spaces for both community connection and commercial opportunity.

The draft concept Master Plan was presented for User Groups and community engagement at presentations on 18 and 19 March 2025. These sessions saw community and representatives from various User Groups provide suggestions and feedback on the outlined draft concept masterplan. These sessions were valuable for Council to understand the sentiments from User Groups and the community thus far.

Feedback was well received with a good turn out to the sessions, helping strengthen the project as a whole.