Tamworth Marsupial Park volunteers celebrate turning 'rundown park' in to tourist attraction

The Friends of Marsupial Park celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the park on Thursday.

Group president John McDarmont has "been there right from the word go".

"In that time we've turned, what we then called a rundown dump, in to the number one tourist attraction in Tamworth," he said.

"That's been the result of a lot of dedicated volunteers, some that are still here, others that have moved on, but all of them important."

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About 30 per cent of the park's visitors are from overseas, and they're often amazed the facility is free.

"I always tell people it's the only park like this in Australia - I don't know if that's true, but that's what I keep telling them," Mr McDarmont said, with a laugh.

The park already hosts a plethora of animals and birds but there are still more plans in the pipeline, including a wombat enclosure and an amphitheatre.

"We might even have koalas here in 10 years' time," Mr McDarmont said.

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Tamworth councillor Juanita Wilson said the park was "absolutely unique".

"It's a microcosm of the spirit of Tamworth, because as it was developing, many people from across the community lent their skills to help built it in to what it is today," Cr Wilson said.

Friends of Marsupial Park secretary Gordon Holding said perhaps the group's biggest achievement was the adventure playground.

"That was built in just over a week by at least 800 volunteers," Mr Gordon said.

"Local tradesmen, businesses and TAFE tutors supervised, and volunteers did the labouring."