It is a perfect autumn day, clear blue skies and fresh country air and after the cooked breakfast, at our beautiful Airbnb accommodation, we are ready to explore. Our accommodation was opposite the Tenterfield saddlers. For 50 years this quaint blue-granite Saddlery on High Street was the meeting place for those who enjoyed discussions on a wide variety of topics. Saddler George Woolnough continued to ply his trade, listening but undisturbed by the chatter and opinions of his many friends who wandered in. It was the compassion of George Woolnough that attracted so many to the High St Saddlery from 1908 until his retirement in 1960. One famous customer was A. B. “Banjo” Paterson, well-loved Australian poet and author. Groups still gather and as we walked out it was this group of “red hat” ladies gathered around. Of course I had to chat with them.
There is a famous song about this piece of history written and sung by Peter Allen, you may know it…
With nation-making heritage, spectacular wilderness and elegant wineries, Tenterfield is a delight to visit in the beautiful New England region. This charming town is known as the birthplace of Australia, after Sir Henry Parkes’ famous 1889 speech calling for a ‘great national government for all Australia’. It was delivered in the “School of Arts”
The Tenterfield Oration is credited as decisive in propelling the Australian colonies on the path to federation in 1901.
The Tenterfield School of Arts is a hall in the town of Tenterfield in New South Wales, Australia. It is notable as the place where Sir Henry Parkes delivered the Tenterfield Oration, a speech proposing that the six separate British colonies in Australia should unite into a single federation.
The building was threatened with demolition in the 1950s, but was saved after an extended community campaign, which saw the formation of the National Trust of Australia. It was acquired by the Trust in 1957 and restored over the next few years. After being renamed the Sir Henry Parkes School of Arts, the building became the first museum operated by the Trust in Australia, containing a range of memorabilia related to the history of Federation and the local area. It is open to the public seven days a week.
Across the road from the School of Art we found an old pub, originally “the Exchange” with the nickname “the blood house!” (I’ll leave that to your imagination) it is now The Corner life and Style and Café. With convenient tables and chairs outside. A perfect place to sit and sketch with a cup of coffee.
Both looking from the same spot but quite different results…
This is a charming heritage town with many buildings dating back to the late 1800’s,
The magnificent buildings are a magnet for our cameras and sketch book. We spend a whole day just walking around admiring the old historic buildings and taking time to sit and just sketch, interspersed with cups of coffee. Sketching really makes you look and take in the beauty and detail of these old buildings, they are a delight and a challenge.
Here are some of the sketches…
The main reason I had chosen this area was to see and be immersed in the beauty of the autumn leaves. It was a little disappointing as many trees were just starting to turn.
But some were flaunting their glowing grandeur.
One very impressive tree is the historic cork tree. Can you spot Jack. He is dwarfed by this magnificent tree…
Tenterfield’s giant cork tree, still growing in Wood Street, was brought from England by Edward Parker in a jam tin in 1861. It is believed to be one of the largest Cork trees in Australia. Although not as old as some of the trees dotted around the English countryside, our Cork Tree flourishes in this New England climate, and continues to grow. It is hoped that it will continue to flourish and yield good luck to future generations, as in the past.
The Legend
Known as the Wishing Tree, as well as Cork Tree in English folklore, it is said that the trees are surrounded with a strange power to bring good luck to those who observe certain rituals dating back to the time of the Great Plague of London 1665. At that time, people came from all parts of the country to walk around the tree three times and as they walked, to make a wish. Some came for better health, some for better fortune and others for a wife or husband. It was said that few were disappointed.
Fortune Favours those who see
More in me than just a tree
Look at my cork
And three times walk
Before my girth for all to see
A very satisfying day. Lots of photos, some sketching and now time to head back “home”, put our feet up and relax, as tomorrow we are going to walk up Bald Rock.
******************************
I’m joining in with Restless Jo’s intrepid travellers and walkers from all over the world. Pop over for some armchair travel.
What beautiful photos of the fall colors and the buildings in charming Tenterfield, Pauline. I also LOVE the sketches! Are they yours or Jack’s? They are wonderful. I like the idea of sketching on a trip; it really makes you sit down and linger, and to pay attention to details. I would love to take this up one of these days; I can’t draw but I’m still hoping at this late stage in life that I can learn. ?? 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Cathy for the lovely comment, a couple of the sketches are mine the rest are Jacks, he is a much faster drawer than me. I’m sure you could draw it is a matter of time and practice, lots of good books to help and also you tube with lots of tutorials
LikeLike
Well, I do think they’re all fabulous, so compliments to both you and Jack. Thanks for the encouragement, Pauline. I have doubted I’d ever be able to draw, but when I’ve tried several times, my attempts haven’t been too horrible. I’m trying to decide if next year will be my year of learning to sketch or taking horseback riding lessons. I’d like to try both eventually! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nothing to stop you doing both. I spent a lot of my teenage years on horse back
LikeLike
That’s true. Nothing except time. Once I devote myself to something, I like to go all out. 🙂 Your teenage years on horseback sound wonderful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are a whirlwind of organisation Cathy and you get so much out of all your trips. Here is a post I did on my “memories” blog about my horse years https://memoriesaremadeofthisblog.wordpress.com/2012/11/06/a-word-a-week-photo-challenge-love/ I noticed you had commented on it too.
LikeLike
Awww, that is so sweet, and I remember it now. That is such a nostalgic post. Thanks for reminding me of it, Pauline. Such wonderful memories. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t believe it was so long ago…. 1950’s….
LikeLike
Those were the simple days, weren’t they?
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was good being a teenager back then
LikeLiked by 1 person
Can tell you’re having a wonderful time. It comes shining out here. And lovely to see the sketches from your and Jack’s perspectives.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Tish I’m thinking that short trips, concentrating on one area, suit us more these days than the long expeditions we went on in the past
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think a short trip in a well chosen place can often seem like a much longer expedition. There’s a lot of mileage in focusing and getting under the skin of a place 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Also distances are so long between places over here a lot of time can be spent travelling.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Compliments to the artists. I’m super impressed.
Sounds like you had a lovely time, even if the autumn colour wasn’t at its grandest. I wondered whether your informant might have been a little optimistic, because our leaves have only just started turning here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The leaves actually coloured up while we were there, I will show more of them shortly. It was a very interesting few days.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love it when you include your sketches Pauline! Never a moment wasted. Thanks so much for honouring me by sharing them xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s always a pleasure to come walking with you Jo. How is the house sale going? I was a real estate agent in NZ for a number of years and know it can be a stressful time
LikeLike
Nothing much happening yet, Pauline. We’re all cleaned up and on the market from Monday. Just waiting…. 🙂 🙂 And sorting through reams of photographs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A very important job bringing back lots of memories
LikeLiked by 1 person
Are these ladies celebrating Jenny Jospeh’s poem, Warning? When I am old I shall wear purple and a big red hat that doesn’t go. Or something like that! Fabulous post, love your sketches.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I believe that poem is the basis of the club. I have come across the red hat ladies in other towns, they are always a friendly lot. Can’t miss their flamboyant outfits….
LikeLike
How wonderful that there is actually a club based on it. I’ve not heard of that before.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I believe it is quite strong over here
LikeLike
I’ve just looked it up and it seems there are branches in the U.K. but none within 25 miles of Glasgow.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think it would be a fun group to belong to
LikeLiked by 1 person
Both you and Jack are very talented. I know I keep on saying that, but it’s true! Love your sketches, and yes, I can see how sketching must slow you down and focus your mind. Jack’s back door and your Belevedere are my favourites. Difficult to time leaf peeping, last year we hardly saw any colours at all, due to a cool summer and wet autumn. Hoping I might catch some cherry blossom before it ends, but then it might not even have started yet! Who knows!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Seasons and weather are so unpredictable these days. But wait the leaves do get better before we leave… hope you catch the cherry blossom to show us
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely sketches – and lovely shots of the autumn colours. This must have been another great trip!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think I am enjoying the shorter trips these days. Not rushing around so much
LikeLike
We are also loving the shorter ones more nowadays. Often it feels like much longer!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yes it felt like 4 weeks not 4 days
LikeLike
😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would say you had a very successful, productive trip!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It certainly was
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I LOVE you sketchbooks!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Deborah they give us a lot of satisfaction
LikeLiked by 1 person
Many thanks for choosing to stay with me Pauline and Jack and I’m thrilled with your sketches, photos and description of Tenterfield – the centre of my universe LOL. I think you captured “The Belvedere” magnificently. Is it possible to get a copy?
Cheers and come back soon. The leaves are verging on truly divine.
Elizabeth
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for leaving a comment we did enjoy our stay. I will mail a copy of the sketch to you. Just sorting the hundreds of photos we took of a bald Rock for the next post. 😊
LikeLike
Cork oak is from the Mediterranean Region, mainly Spain. England seems like an odd place for it to have been grown, but it does happen to grow near the coast here. There is a huge one in Santa Cruz, and a few smaller ones about that were planted because so many people like the big historic tree so much. They are more common in the old Portuguese neighborhood in San Jose.
The architecture there is so compelling. They seem to use quite a bit of brick. Is blue granite a common material there?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes the granite was used a lot in the old colonial homes, it’s a beautiful material. Not used so much now, maybe too expensive to quarry it
LikeLiked by 1 person
I suppose that every continent has some sort of granite in the basement. I do not think of Australia as having too much accessible granite.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think granite was used quite a lot in the early days
LikeLiked by 1 person
Both if you are so talented and it’s a lovely way to record a journey. No way is that tree just a tree, it’s magnificent, regal.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Gilly for your kind comment. Magnificent is a good word for that cork tree
LikeLike
[…] Time in Tenterfield : Road trip day 3 […]
LikeLike
I am so envious of your ability to sketch so beautifully, both of you. I’m familiar with Tenterfield, in fact my daughter works there now, and it was a treat to find a bit of that other home so beautifully captured.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We have booked to stay at Stannam House in a couple of weeks time. Looking forward to it
LikeLike
That’s classy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m looking forward to it. I’m becoming addicted to the short stay away. Never thought I would
LikeLike
[…] Also in April the cooler weather made me restless to be on the move again and the desire to see autumn leaves in all their glorious colours drove me onto the road into the Great Dividing Range to a very successful visit of Tenterfield. […]
LikeLike