Tambo Teddies: How bears turned round an outback wool town

Tambo Teddies in Tambo, Queensland, was born during dire times for the local wool industry. Now the hand-made woollen teddy bears are sold at stockists all over Australia.

Australia rose to riches on the back of its wool industry, but sometimes that wool is put to surprising uses. Step forward Tambo Teddies, makers of soft toys that have travelled far beyond their Queensland outback origins.

Tambo Teddies was born in the outback wool town of Tambo, back in 1992. Wool prices had crashes, and the district was severely drought-effected. A new industry was needed to boost the town’s economy.

Three local women decided they might as well use that cheap wool and turn it into something more valuable. So they used it to produce hand-made teddy bears.

Tambo Teddies styles

These bears come in two styles. The Basils are a traditional teddy bear style, and the Tobies are chubbier, which makes them a bit cuddlier too. All are made from 100% woollen sheepskin, and all are handmade in the Tambo factory.

Each comes with its own number, and no two bears are ever the same. The bears are given their names, usually in honour of local sheep stations, as they are made and their personalities emerge.

This means that the Tambo Teddies are not cheap. Prices start at around $55 for the smallest bears to $450 for the big ones.

Tambo Teddies stores and stockists

It’s possible to drop into the Tambo Teddies store in Tambo, on the drive from Roma to Longreach, and watch the teddies being made. There is also a dedicated Tambo Teddies store in Toowoomba, but there are stockists all over the country.