16 April 2022 Exploring Tenterfield

Today we planned to head back into Tenterfield, to do some site seeing there and along the way, and then return to camp via Stanthorpe

First of all we decided to do a little exploring around the campsite

These gorgeous flowers just outside our van close up at night, but they were open by the the time we headed off on our walk

Pretty wild flowers along our walk

We walked up to the end of the track and went through the gate at the top of the hill to get a better view

View was nothing spectacular as it was a dull cloudy morning. However after coming back through the gate we continued along the track inside the fence line and ended up at the campsites at the end - Rory’s Lookout and Eagles lookout. Incidentally we could hear the eagles. Great views across the valley from here.

We chatted to the people at this campsite and would you believe they are from Brisbane but what’s more - Red Hill

In fact most of the people we have come across have been from the Gold Coast or Brisbane

We did a loop along the tracks back to the campsite

Ending up on the track below our van

Bill tracked where we walked on Gaia

Out on the Highway now back to Tenterfield, stopping at the first place we wanted to look at, this old bridge.

Bill climbed under to check out its construction

An extremely well made substantial bridge

Each time we have gone over this next bridge, further down the road we have admired its construction with a pedestrian section on the side. We presume it was prefabricated and brought in as a new standard for bridges as there is no where for anyone to walk on either end

Our next stop was here at the information sign about the WW2 Tank Traps across the road

A very good information sign here

With a thorough description

and another board with more info

We walked down through them

This view shows them towards the road

This is just one of the many that are there, still standing.

Next stop Thunderbolts Hideout

A track off the road took us to the cavern

Not easy to climb through

But certainly plenty of protection

Bill climbed up to what would have been his lookout

Bill at the top of the lookout

The view from the lookout

An inscription on the rock around the corner of the hideout - no idea what it is meant to mean

The track up to and from the Hideout went over a creek that we had to cross and I didn’t fall in. However I did cheat. Bill helped me over

I wonder why this area is called London Bridge

Just before reaching Tenterfield we stopped at this F111 crash memorial site

When we first arrived in Tenterfield we had planned to have a look at some of the historic buildings in the town, starting with driving past some of the outer buildings.

Beautiful autumn colour on these trees lining this street

We drove past The amazing Cork Tree

Amazing up close

Granite home of builder Thomas McGauran who was responsible for the construction of many of the fine old buildings in Tenterfield

It was lunch time, we had started to look for somewhere nice to eat when we stumbled upon this gem of a place

Delicious home made pies and salad with a cuppa

I asked the owner if he would take a photo of us. He insisted that we didn’t pose and told us to eat. He did a great job 😀

I went in search of the toilets and discovered even more of a gem this place was. This was the stairwell

Then I discovered these dining rooms downstairs

This is the back where the toilet was

This was the front of the cafe

And this trike was in the front of the cafe. Needless to say I couldn’t resist taking this photo

After lunch we set about walking the Historic walk trail, with so many interesting old historic buildings are featured.

Masonic Hall

The Royal Hotel

The Tenterfield Saddlery immortalised in the song ‘Tenterfield Saddler’ by Peter Allen as a tribute to his grandfather saddler

Code in the window of the saddlery

Information board in the street explaining the architecture of the Commercial Hotel and the National Bank

NSW bank

Info about Bruxner Park that we walked past where there were Easter events taking place

These two were part of the Easter Festival entertainment that we came across whilst following the historic walk. Part of School of Arts building on the corner opposite

This information board explains the impact in the town of Edward Whereat, who was the mayor for several years but stood aside for Henry Parkes

The information board gives the history of the magnificent Post Office Building

Post Office - 1881 built by the McGauran Brothers featuring Italianste facade, clock tower and mansard roof

School of Arts building - 1876

The first building in NSW acquired by the NationalTrust

Plaque on the School of Arts building commemorating Sir Henry Parkes making his famous federation speech here on 24 Oct 1889

This sandstone and marble arch extension was added as a memorial to the Boer War soldiers

This house has no historical significance, I took the photo for the beautiful colour of the trees

105 Logan St - 1870 Features vertical decorative use of darker end bricks, a gable roof and Lattice sunscreen

Front of 105 Logan St

St Stephens - 1884

Mr Walker, manager of Tenterfield Station donated the land for the church and Manse.

The social event of 1903 held in this church was the wedding of his daughter Miss Alice Walker to AB ‘Banjo’ Patterson

Church Manse

This house doesn’t have any historical interest but I liked the look of it and the style with the large verandas with bullnose roofing

Terrace Houses - 1880

Uncommon in country towns and the only ones in Tenterfield

Uniting Church - 1867

Centenary Cottage - 1871

The cottage now houses Tenterfield memorabilia

Petrie Cottage, an early colonial slab building

19th century shops

Not of historical significance but of interest

Neither is this of history significance but amusing and clever

State Bank - 1891

National Trust Building

Site of the first Australian joint Stock Bank

Now a private residence

Old Lyric Theatre

Art Deco cinema facade, typical design form of the 1930s, when movies were king

Memorial Hall - 1924

The Court House - 1870

The first case tried by a magistrate was for the crime of stealing a building tape measure

Police Station and Goal - 1870

Built by McGauran. The original lock up cost 2 pounds

Three cottages 89,91,93 Molesworth St

Listed by the National Trust

Each of the three beautiful buildings feature gabled roofs, bay windows and 2 are of timber and barge board construction

St Cuthberts - 1870

Built as a flour mill but only ever used to store flour from the Mill at Bluff Rock. Note the dates on the chimneys. Michael Bruxner lived here after his marriage in 1908