We are here in Tenterfield for a few days prior to the start of the Celtic Festival in Glen Innes, about 90km south.

Tenterfield has a few claims to fame, but two standout.

It was here in 1889 that the then Premier of the Colony of NSW gave an impassioned speech (the Tenterfield Oration) for the establishment of the Australian Federation. He is known as the Father of Federation.

The School of Arts, built from 1876, where the speech was given has been turned over to commemorate Sir Henry and the Federation movement.

There is an interesting collection of flags inside, each of the colonies through to the Aboriginal flag of today. Tit bits about each of them. Allthego got a surprise in finding out that our current flag was only adopted by the Parliament in 1953. It was the ultimate outcome of a competition that started in 1901! In the 50 years it took it seems we used the Red Ensign as our flag (?) Things back then took their time, why are we surprised that times haven’t changed?

The other claim to fame is that it is the birth place of one of its favourite sons, Peter Allen who died in 1992. Many songs to his credit. Probably, the two best being ‘I Still Call Australia Home’ and ‘The Tenterfield Saddler’. The later being the immortalisation of his grandfather George Woolnough, who was the Tenterfield Saddler for something like 50 years.

The workshop is still there, classified as an historic building, now a museum.

Lots of old saddle and leather stuff and Peter Allen and Tenterfield memorabilia.

A couple of other famous people also feature in the town’s history. Banjo Patterson was married here in 1903, to a local pastoralists daughter. The wedding was in the 1885 built wooden Presbyterian Church.

Fred Ward, the bushranger Captain Thunderbolt, wandered around these parts in the mid 1800s. We had a little wander to one of his claimed hideouts among the granite boulders just out of town along the Mt Lindsay Road.

There are many old commercial buildings and homes in the town, generally repurposed but retaining their facades.

Among them is the Royal Tenterfield Hotel, originally built in 1849 as the George Inn. It has been added to and remodelled in various styles over the years.

Recently restored with a modern interior twist. We had a pre dinner drink there after walking around the town. Back to the Peter Allen Motel for the evening.