Our History

Since 1941, through the good times and the bad, farmers, graziers and the local community relied on one name for rural supplies - Tamworth Co-Op. But in 2008 the members of the co-op voted to change the organisation's structure and name - we are now known as Tamworth Rural.

Our Range

The name may have changed, but our mission remains the same - to supply you with the widest range of high quality rural supplies at the best possible price. From a huge broadacre cropping enterprise to the smallest hobby farm, when you need a hand with rural supplies you'll find just what you need at Tamworth Rural.

Our Competitive Pricing

As a significant player in rural supplies in northern NSW, Tamworth Rural has substantial buying power and special arrangements with our major suppliers, meaning that our customers get the benefit of our bulk-buying ability through very competitive pricing. We are also members of the CRT group.

Our People

Just as important as the products we supply is the advice that we can give. Our staff are all local people who understand life on the land. Many of them have worked for our organisation for more than a decade. They know the local conditions. They have years of practical, hands-on experience in their specialist fields. They know what works - and what doesn't, which means you can get advice and recommendations that can really make a difference.

Our Directors

The Directors of Tamworth Rural Ltd are local people, strongly involved in the community, with a wide range of practical business, farming and governance experience.

Bede Burke - Chairman
Bede Burke joined the board of directors in 1997 and was elected Chairman of the board in January 2008.  His previous board experience includes Tamegg from 1989 to 1999 and NSW Egg Producers Co-Op from 1997 to the present.  Mr Burke is the managing partner of Glenwarrie Partnership, which runs several hundred acres of grain and sheep production and is the largest egg producer in the North West.  He holds a Bachelor of Science and a Graduate Diploma of Business Management.

Bruce Brown
Bruce Brown has extensive senior management experience across a number of agribusiness industries. He has been involved in management, strategic planning and business development roles for Elders Limited, the Commonwealth development Bank, ANZ and Queensland Cotton. Mr Brown joined the board in 2006 and holds a number of agribusiness directorships. He is currently the General Manager of the Namoi Catchment Management Authority. He is an honours graduate of both Wagga Agricultural College and UNE. Mr Brown has farming interests involving grain production and cattle breeding.

Stephen Hall
A member of the board of Directors since 2002, Stephen Hall holds a Bachelor of Economics degree, is a registered company auditor and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. He has had 33 years experience in audit, insolvency and business management services. After working for KPMG for many years he established Hall and Co in 1978, later merging with Forsyths in 1992 where today he is a partner working from the Tamworth office. 

John Treloar
John Treloar has been a member of the board of Directors since 2004.  He has had vast experience in retail and extensive experience as a company director, including as a board member of Mitre 10 Australia.  He currently has the full responsibility of the family retail and property businesses. Mr Treloar has a strong involvement with local community organisations including Rotary, various community sports, and as a director of Joblink Plus, a not for profit job placement company.

Terry Halcroft
Joining the board in 2007, Terry Halcroft has practical experience on the land due to farming interests in cattle production, and also brings to his role extensive experience in Livestock and Merchandise agencies, having been the principal of Halcroft and Bennett at Coonamble for 14 years. He has a good understanding of equine activities as a past CEO of the Australian Bushmen’s Campdraft and Rodeo Association.

Gavin Hombsch
Mr Hombsch joined the board in March 2000 and was elected as chairman for two years, from October 2005 to October 2007. He holds a Diploma of Applied Science in Agriculture and worked in the livestock division of Australian Meat and Livestock Corporation before moving into property management for overseas investors through Agricultural Investments Australia. Mr Hombsch now manages his family farming business which comprises cropping and livestock enterprises.