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History & Heritage

Photo by Peter Reid

Located at the intersection of the New England and Bruxner Highways in the New England region of New South Wales, Tenterfield is the largest town in Tenterfield Shire and has a rich history dating back to the traditional landowners.

Known as the ‘Birthplace of our Nation’, Sir Henry Parkes delivered his famous federation speech in the Tenterfield School of Arts in 1889, which helped to make the case for the Federation of all Australian states. However, there is more to the region’s history than one speech.

The area is rich in indigenous culture and for many thousands of years, one of the region’s most famous sites, Bald Rock, served as neutral ground for the three Aboriginal nations of the region: the Jukembal, Bundjalung and Kamilaroi. Bald Rock was considered a boundary by the nations, so meetings and trade could occur on the site without each nation having to journey through the other territories.

Following European settlement, the first official grazier licence for the region was issued 45 years prior to Parkes’ federation speech, establishing Tenterfield Shire as the agricultural area that it continues to be today. The town was gazetted in 1851 and gold was discovered in the late 1850s.

The railway opened to Tenterfield in 1886, and shortly after in 1888, to Wallangarra, which created a Sydney to Brisbane rail link.

Tenterfield has been home to many famous faces, including politicians, war heroes, and well known celebrities such as Peter Allen and Banjo Patterson.

Read about more of Tenterfield’s notable residents.

Museums

Historic Sites & Walks

Famous Faces

History of Tenterfield

Centenary Cottage Museum

Tenterfield

Tenterfield Centenary Cottage Museum consists of the Cottage Museum, General Sir Harry Chauvel Gallery, Petrie Pioneer Cottage and various examples…

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Currys Gap State Conservation Area

Tenterfield

Curry's Gap State Conservation Area is located 1km south of Tenterfield at the base of Mount Mackenzie and covers an…

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F-111 Crash Site Memorial

Tenterfield

On 2 April 1987, an F-111 training flight took a turn for the worse when the plane crashed into a…

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Sir Henry Parkes Memorial School of Arts

Tenterfield

Sir Henry Parkes Memorial School of Arts  The Sir Henry Parkes School of Arts offers a fresh and exciting approach to…

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Tenterfield Cork Tree

Tenterfield

Fortune favours those who see More in me than just a tree Look at my cork And three times walk Before my girth for…

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Tenterfield Railway Museum

Tenterfield

The Station opened in 1886 and is a rare survival of something that was once common throughout NSW. It is…

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Tenterfield Saddler

Tenterfield

The late George Woolnough worked on High Street and lived on Manners, Fifty-two years he sat on his verandah, made his…

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TENTERFIELD SCULPTURE WALK

Tenterfield

Stroll through Tenterfield's History in sculpture. Start at "Horse" (representing our early settlers) in Miles Street and continue along Tenterfield Creek…

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Tenterfield Soundtrail

Tenterfield

Discover our region through audio stories.  Tenterfield is a town built on crossroads - between the coast and the western plains,…

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The Prince Albert Memorial Hospital Isolation Ward

One of the remaining extant Isolation Wards in regional Australia - a site of cultural significance that has been preserved…

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Thunderbolt's Hideout

Tenterfield

Fred Ward, better known as Captain Thunderbolt, was the longest roaming bushranger in Australia’s history. He was very familiar with…

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World War 2 Tank Traps - Mount Lindesay Road

Tenterfield

During World War II, low profile, defensive positions were established along many roads throughout Australia. The Mount Lindesay Road (then…

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World War 2 Tank Traps - Paddy's Flat

Paddy's Flat

During World War II, low profile, defensive positions were established along many roads throughout Australia, and the Tank Traps at…

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