Tenterfield, New South Wales - Where Australia's Story Began

Tenterfield, New South Wales - Where Australia's Story Began

Tucked away in the New England region of northern New South Wales, Tenterfield is one of those towns that quietly steals your heart. Located around 668 kilometres north of Sydney and surrounded by six national parks, it’s a destination where history, heritage, and nature come together beautifully. Known proudly as the Birthplace of Our Nation, Tenterfield is where Sir Henry Parkes delivered his famous Federation speech in 1889 — a moment that helped shape modern Australia.

When we visited Tenterfield, we explored the history of Tenterfield at Sir Henry Parkes Memorial School of Arts and The Saddler. We wandered around town admiring the heritage buildings and visited the Railway Museum. We explored the Bald Rock National Park and Captain Thunderbolt’s Hideout.

Walking Through the Birthplace of a Nation

Our time in Tenterfield was spent wandering slowly, soaking up the stories held within its grand old buildings and peaceful streets. We began at the Sir Henry Parkes Memorial School of Arts, the town’s most significant landmark. This striking building is now a museum, but step inside the Banquet Hall and you’re standing where Sir Henry Parkes delivered the speech that eventually led to Australia’s Federation in 1901. It’s one of those places that gives you goosebumps — history feels very close here.

The Sir Henry Parkes Memorial School of Arts is Tenterfield's most famous landmark.  This building is now a museum and features the Banquet Hall, where Sir Henry Parkes delivered his famous speech in 1889, which led to Australia’s federation formation in 1901. 

Music, Memory and the Tenterfield Saddler

Just across the road sits the much-loved Tenterfield Saddler, a humble 19th-century saddlery made famous by Peter Allen’s iconic song Tenterfield Saddler. Owned by Allen’s grandfather, George Woolnough, the shop operated for more than 100 years and remains beautifully preserved.

Open Wednesday to Sunday from 9:00am to 12:30pm, the saddlery is frozen in time, filled with original tools, leather goods, and personal memorabilia. It’s a deeply moving stop — even if you’ve never heard the song, the story resonates.

The Tenterfield Heritage Walk is an absolute highlight and one of the best ways to experience the town. As you stroll through the streets, you’ll pass an impressive collection of heritage-listed buildings, each with its own story to tell.

Highlights include:

• Opposite the Tenterfield Saddler is The Royal Hotel, which was formerly the George Inn. It was built in 1849 and was Tenterfield’s first licensed premises.

• The Post Office was built in 1881 and is an elegant two-storey, Victorian Classical building with a clock tower.

• The Tenterfield Courthouse was built in 1885 and is still in use today.

• Behind the Courthouse is the heritage-listed Police Station that was built in 1870.

• The Tenterfield and District Soldiers Memorial Hall was erected in 1924 to honour the soldiers who died in the First World War.

• The current St Mary’s Catholic Church was built in 1940. The original church, built in 1867, is now used as the church hall.

• Stannum House is a grand Victorian mansion built in 1888 by mining magnate John Holmes Reid. 

• St Stephen’s Presbyterian Church is in Logan Street, and on the 8th of April 1903, Banjo Patterson married his wife Alice here.

• Located on Wood Street is a huge cork tree. It was brought from England by Edward Parker and planted in 1861. It is still growing and is said to be the largest cork tree in Australia.

Rails, Steam and Stories at the Railway Museum

The Tenterfield Railway Museum, located at the beautifully preserved Tenterfield Railway Station, is another must-visit. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 9:00am to 4:00pm, the museum is run by passionate volunteers dedicated to preserving Australia’s rail heritage.

The station opened in 1886, with the last train departing in 1988. Today, you can wander through vintage locomotives, carriages, and sheds filled with railway memorabilia. One of the highlights is Tilly the Tank Engine, built in 1912 and used for nearly 50 years — you can even climb aboard. The Diesel Rail Motor offers another fascinating glimpse into regional rail travel from decades past.

Nature on a Grand Scale – Bald Rock National Park

Just 30 kilometres north of town, Bald Rock National Park delivers a complete change of pace. The well-equipped day-use area has picnic tables, BBQs, toilets, and plenty of parking.

We followed the easy 450-metre track through old-growth forest to the base of Bald Rock, keeping an eye out for wallabies, kangaroos, and lyrebirds along the way. Rising 260 metres above the surrounding bushland, Bald Rock is the largest granite monolith in the Southern Hemisphere. Up close, the water-streaked rock face reveals incredible colours and patterns, and if you’re feeling energetic, there are walking tracks that lead all the way to the summit.

Bushranger Legends at Thunderbolt’s Hideout

A short drive 12 kilometres north of Tenterfield brings you to Thunderbolt’s Hideout, a dramatic granite rock formation hidden just off the road toward Bald Rock. A short 150-metre walk through the bush leads you to this atmospheric spot, once used by Captain Thunderbolt — Australia’s longest-roaming bushranger.

Fred Ward, better known as Captain Thunderbolt, spent years evading capture, and standing here, it’s easy to imagine how he disappeared into the rugged landscape.

Why Tenterfield Belongs on Your NSW Road Trip

Tenterfield is the kind of place that invites you to slow down. It’s rich in history, filled with beautifully preserved heritage, and surrounded by striking natural landscapes. Whether you’re retracing the steps of Australia’s founders, exploring bushranger legends, or wandering through national parks, Tenterfield offers depth, character, and stories at every turn.

👉  Click here for more places to Explore in New South Wales