Tenterfield High School began as a
National School in 1864 on the site it still occupies today.
The beautifully restored building shown above was completed in two
sections in 1887 and 1889 before the school was classified as a
Superior Public School in 1893. It wasn't until the late
1950's that the school became a separate High School with Sir Henry
Parkes Public School opening inTenterfield. Since then there have
been a succession of extentions with a new hall completed in 1984 and
an administration block plus Library and classrooms in 1993.
Presently the school caters for 360 students with 35 teaching
staff.
Tenterfield is a thriving town of
3,500 people sitting astride the Great Dividing Range at the
northern end of the New England Highlands. It offers
tourists and inhabitants a contrast of rugged mountain
beauty and the serenity of rural landscapes. Tenterfield is known as the"birthplace of
the Nation" as it was in the School of Arts hall here that
Sir Henry Parkes made his famous "Tenterfield Speech" on
October 24, 1889. This set in motion the popular movement
resulting in Australian Federation of January 1, 1901. The
School of Arts building is presently being restored by the
National Trust and will feature significantly in Australia's
Centenary of Federation celebrations during 2001. Tenterfield is a farming community with
beef cattle, sheep and now wine growing predominant. Tourism
is also a growing industry with stunning rock outcrocks
abounding in local national parks as well as historical
interest in Sir Henry Parkes, Thunderbolt the bushranger
and, of course, singer Peter Allen who was born in
Tenterfield.
More Pictures
of Tenterfield
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