History

We have endeavoured to share images of several themes that we trust will provide a snapshot of what the museum has to offer visitors.

Use the navigation menu on the right hand side of this page to navigate through our history categories.

Pioneers

Virtual Gallery

The story of pioneers is always interesting particularly when you appreciate that during the early years of Tenterfield’s development there were not formed roads, no reliable communications or wayside conveniences such as we enjoy today. We have stories of pioneers walking through the bush from Sydney to Tenterfield with scant knowledge of the country they were travelling through. There are also stories of people who came to the region with little or no funds to sustain themselves but still managed to create wealth and family dynasties.

Motor vehicles once introduced into Australia still could not travel to Tenterfield due to the rough roads or tracks, lack of river crossings and necessary conveniences such as fuel and mechanical repairs. For that reason, horses were the dominant means of transport and were used extensively to work the developing farmlands.

Many of the early pioneers were of Scottish heritage and came to Australia with established wealth and authority.

Consequently, Tenterfield and the New England region in general contain many Scottish/Gaelic names such as Glen Innis, Dundee, Inverell and Glen Lamond. Tenterfield itself was named by one of the most esteemed pioneers, Sir Stewart Alexander Donaldson, after his favourite Aunt’s property in Haddington, Scotland that was also called “Tenterfield”. The name Tenterfield is derived from a practice in Scotland of erecting tenters (or metal hooks) in a field to place sheep fleeces allowing them to dry.

Stewart Alexander Donaldson became the first premier of New South Wales. A little-known fact regarding him is that he was a participant in the last official recorded duel in Australia in 1851. It is recorded that the third shot from his opponent, Sir Thomas Mitchell dislodged his hat and then the seconds representing each participant stepped in with a declaration that sufficient honour had been restored.

The history of Johan Heinrich (John Henry) Sommerlad is a fascinating story in itself. His ability to grow fruit and vegetables in a quite different environment from his home region in Germany has been acknowledged as the origin of the thriving fruit and vegetable industry now established throughout the New England and Granite Belt regions. Some of Sommerlad’s descendants still reside in Tenterfield.

Another person who is perhaps not recognised as a pioneer is Doctor Alexander Watts who served the town of Tenterfield as their resident doctor during the period 1918-1919 when the Spanish Flu was cause for concern. Doctor Watts was initially a geologist and participated in the Horn Expedition which was the first scientific expedition into Central Australia. Dr Watts decided to study medicine at the prestigious London University College before eventually moving to Tenterfield as the resident doctor. In the Isolation Ward Museum in Pelham Street near the hospital you will find ward design features adopted by Dr Watts and promoted by Florence Nightingale. It is certainly worth a visit.

Information on Tenterfield Pioneers will be added too as the website develops and time and resources are available.

Pioneers

Buildings

Virtual Gallery

Tenterfield has a well preserved range of historical buildings, dating from the early 1870’s through to the 1940’s. There are several grand buildings which illustrate the grand architecture of the era. They have either large stone or brick facades, high hip roofs, grand entrances, and prominent friezes.

A stroll down Rouse Street and along High, Manners and Molesworth streets will enthral visitors, especially as many of the buildings contain remnants of the original building structure.

If you were to take a short walk along Logan Street (heading north), you will find near the corner of Logan and High streets Centenary Cottage Museum (136 Logan Street) which was built during 1871. The building was constructed from local granite stone and if you were to view the home opposite the cottage you will see another home of similar construction from the same era.

The following buildings would be worthy of a visit:

Rouse street – South to North

Stannum House – This grand residence is located high on the hill, overlooking the town, at 114 Rouse Street, built C1887 for John Holmes Reid.

The School of Arts & Sir Henry Parkes Museum – (S/E Corner of Manners and Rouse streets) was the very first building listed under National Heritage Legislation in Australia.

The iconic Tenterfield Post office – (N/E Corner of Manners and Rouse Street) initially housed both NSW and Queensland staff as telegrams enroute from NSW to QLD had to be decoded in NSW and then resent into QLD by a QLD employee.

Melbourne House – (S/W Corner of Manners and Rouse streets) was once a grand emporium and is now home to Mitre 10. On the opposite corner you will find the old Exchange Hotel building. Both buildings were built C1889.

If you travel east on Manners Street, you will find the Telegraph Hotel (RHS) and the Old Council Chambers (now a boutique accommodation venue). By traveling west down Manners Street from the corner of Manners & Rouse you will see a workman’s cottage which has been tastefully restored. You will also find an old triple storey grain mill which is now a residence.

By travelling north to 253 Rouse Street you will see the old Bank of New South Wales building next to Bruxner Park, which is now occupied by an accounting firm. Across the street from here is Central Arcade which were a strip of shops built in 1914 after a fire destroyed the older wooden building there.

If you travel east from the corner of High and Rouse streets you will find the iconic Tenterfield Saddler building located at 123 High Street, built in the early 1870’s. Further along High Street you will see the old Methodist Church, (C1928) which has been renovated and is now occupied by Ray White realty.

On the LHS side of High Street behind the barricades, back in its day you could once find an old Tenterfield bakery and a dress shop. Travelling further west you will come across the recently renovated Royal Hotel built in 1935. This is the site of the original George Inn, which was the first hotel to hold a liquor licence in Tenterfield.

On next corner there is the National Australia Bank and then directly across the road is the Commercial Hotel. Both buildings were built in the Art Deco style of the 1930’s.

Walking further north along Rouse Street, you will find at 305 Rouse Street the very imposing Australian Joint Stock Bank built in 1891. This building is now home to an antique business, private residence and Bed and Breakfast facility. Further north is the Art Deco Lyric Theatre which is now a homewares store. On the LHS of Rouse Street you will see the existing Commonwealth Bank building.

At the next intersection you will find Rouse and Molesworth streets and by turning left and heading down Molesworth Street you will locate the Court house and Memorial Hall.

There are many significant buildings in the town and region worthy of a visit including the Tenterfield Railway station, churches, and private residences.

Buildings

Military

Virtual Gallery

Tenterfield and the New England region has a rich history of military service from the Boer War through WW1 and into WW2. There are many Tenterfield service men and women who have served in conflicts in the modern era and hopefully when and where appropriate they will also share their history with us.

General Sir Harry Chauvel (born in Tabulum New England) is a famous local soldier who was a senior officer of the Australian Imperial Force and fought at Gallipoli and during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign in the Middle East. He is best remembered as the General who led the Light Horse during the Battle of Beersheba.

Another example is Major James Francis Thomas, the Tenterfield lawyer who defended lieutenants Peter Joseph Handcock, George Ramsdale Witton and Harry “Breaker” Morant during the South Africa War in 1902. Thomas was also a prominent businessman in Tenterfield once owning the local newspaper “The Tenterfield Star” and running his law service business from the same premises. His task of defending the three soldiers and the subsequent execution of Harry “Breaker” Morant and Peter Handcock appears to have severely affected Thomas as his health and business declined and eventually, he died a pauper at Boonoo Boonoo north of Tenterfield.

Finally, Lieutenant Colonel Sir Michael Frederick Bruxner who was both an Australian politician and soldier enlisted into the Australian Light Horse at the outbreak of the First World War. He served with distinction in Gallipoli, Egypt and Palestine.

These stories and many more from lesser-known military men and women will be added as time and resources are available.

Art & Artists

Virtual Gallery

Centenary Cottage Museum is fortunate enough to house extensive collections of art from Lillian Chauvel who was the sister of General Sir Harry Chauvel (see Military history) and the first Australian female painter to have an international reputation. In addition, there are many examples of the work of Ted Hoskins who painted and drew many local buildings, people and scenes. The museum also has paintings from unknown artists.

From time to time the museum will create short term exhibits of work from particular artists such as Chauvel and Hoskins and other artists as sufficient exhibits become available.

Memorabilia

One of the greatest pleasures of volunteering at the Centenary Cottage Museum is the comments and praise received from visitors to the complex. Comments include “My mother used one of those”, “I had one of the those as a child”, “Oh dear, I didn’t know that” and/or “I’ve never seen one of those before”.

Our museum houses numerous items of memorabilia; some are well known and easy to recognise whereas many others are obscure- sometimes a mystery - and certainly a window into living conditions from a previous era.

The original intention of the Historical Society was to create a house museum with themed rooms. However it has grown from one building into a site with the main cottage, Petrie Cottage which was added during the mid 1980s and then the Chauvel Gallery (a separate building containing military, scientific and many other poignant memorabilia.)

The complex also contains a shed housing dairy memorabilia, a garage containing tools and artefacts from a bygone era. There is also an undercover area that houses a collection of farm machinery and other industry memorabilia.

The themed rooms in the main cottage include a master bedroom along with all the items you would expect to find in a well-equipped bedroom. There is a Victorian style parlour complete with the show of wealth that was expected in any prominent parlour of that era.

Petrie Cottage which is a typical 1860-1930s workman’s cottage was transported from another part of Tenterfield. It demonstrates sparse living conditions with no electricity, running water and very basic furnishings. Looking along the roof on the southern side, you can still see remnants of the timber roof shingles that have been retained under the corrugated iron sheeting added to the roof later during its practical life.

Our memorabilia include many articles which are innovative solutions to the problems encountered on the farm, and in the house, particularly the kitchen. Visitors marvel at the sock knitting machine that was used to produce socks for service men and women and the cedar wood cupboard covered in kangaroo skin made locally by Mr Witton of Leech Gully. You will find a selection of early valve radios used at a time before television. We invite visitors to sit at one of our two pianos and play a tune or two. (The pianos are not greatly in tune. However to see the joy of the family and friends of the pianist is a pleasure to behold).

Information about memorabilia items will be constantly added to our website and Facebook page as donors regularly offer relevant historical items to the museum for safe keeping.