Tenterfield School of Arts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tenterfield School of Arts |
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| Location | Manners Street, Tenterfield, Tenterfield Shire, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1869 |
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| Owner | National Trust of Australia (NSW) |
| Official name: Tenterfield School of Arts; Sir Henry Parkes Memorial School of Arts | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 1 March 2002 |
| Reference no. | 1506 |
| Type | School of Arts |
| Category | Community Facilities |
| Builders | Mr Merrell |
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The Tenterfield School of Arts is a special building in Tenterfield, New South Wales, Australia. It used to be a "school of arts," which was a place where people could learn and share ideas. Today, it's a museum, a theatre, a cinema, a community center, and a library.
This building is very important in Australian history. It's where Sir Henry Parkes, a famous politician, gave a speech in 1889. In his speech, known as the Tenterfield Oration, he suggested that the different British colonies in Australia should join together to form one country. This idea helped lead to the Federation of Australia, when Australia became a single nation.
The Tenterfield School of Arts is now owned by the National Trust of Australia. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on March 1, 2002, because of its historical importance.
Contents
A Look Back: The School's Early Days
The first School of Arts in Tenterfield started around 1863 or 1864. It was a small place where people could meet and learn. Mr. Isaac Whereat remembered it being in a tailor's building at first.
Later, it moved to a brick cottage. Then, in 1869 or 1870, the first building on the current site was built. It was a simple wooden building, like a large barn. People in the town were very interested in learning and raising money for a better building. They held events like bazaars to collect funds.
The new, bigger School of Arts building was officially opened on September 7, 1876. It was a big celebration, and the whole town took the day off!
A Hub for the Community
After it opened, the School of Arts quickly became the heart of Tenterfield. The town's first agricultural show, where farmers displayed their crops and animals, was held there in 1877. Many important town leaders were involved with both the School of Arts and the agricultural society.
The building was a place for meetings, learning, and fun. It helped bring the community together.
Sir Henry Parkes and the Federation Speech
In 1882, a very important event happened that connected the School of Arts to Australia's history. Sir Henry Parkes, who was the Premier (leader) of New South Wales, was looking for a new place to represent in Parliament.
Edward Whereat, a local leader, suggested Sir Henry Parkes become the Member for Tenterfield. Parkes was elected without anyone running against him.
In February 1883, a special dinner was held at the School of Arts to welcome Sir Henry Parkes to Tenterfield. He finished his time as the Member for Tenterfield in 1884.
The Famous Tenterfield Oration
On October 24, 1889, Sir Henry Parkes returned to the Tenterfield School of Arts. He gave a powerful speech there, which became known as the "Tenterfield Oration." In this speech, he talked about the idea of uniting the separate Australian colonies into one nation. This speech was a major step towards Australia becoming a federation.
In 1946, a special plaque was put up at the School of Arts by the Governor-General of Australia, Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester. It was placed there to remember Sir Henry Parkes' famous speech.
Saving the School of Arts
In the 1950s, the School of Arts building was in danger of being torn down. But the local community worked hard to save it. Their efforts led to the creation of the National Trust of Australia in New South Wales.
In 1957, the National Trust took over the Tenterfield School of Arts. It was the very first property they acquired! Money was raised to fix up the building. After it was repaired in the 1960s, the main hall was leased to the Tenterfield Municipal Council.
The building was renamed the Sir Henry Parkes School of Arts. It became the first museum run by the National Trust in Australia. Today, it holds many items related to Australia's Federation history and the local area. It is open to visitors every day.
The School of Arts building still has a library, a place for events, a cinema, and a theatre. It continues to be an important part of the Tenterfield community.
Building Design and Changes
The Tenterfield School of Arts is actually a group of different buildings that were added over time. It has four main parts built in 1876, 1884, 1903, and 1913. Each part shows a different building style from the time it was built.
- The first part, built in 1876, included a hall and reading rooms.
- In 1884, the building became much bigger. A second hall was added, along with new sections and fancy fronts facing Rouse Street. These parts used a mix of Victorian Rustic Gothic and Victorian Romanesque styles.
- The Main Hall, finished in 1903, is a memorial to the soldiers from Tenterfield who died in the Boer War (1898–1901). This part is in the Federation Free Classical style.
- The Billiard Room, designed by F. J. Madigan, was completed in 1913. It shows the unique Australian Federation Style.
The local community and the National Trust have worked to keep the building's original look and feel.
How the Building Changed Over Time
The School of Arts has been changed and updated many times since it was first built:
- 1884: New parts were added, including a steep entrance and larger rooms.
- 1902: Construction began on the Boer War Memorial entrance and the Main Public Hall.
- 1903: The Main Public Hall officially opened.
- 1912: The original wooden roof was replaced with a corrugated iron roof.
- 1913: Some rooms were removed, and the Billiard Room (now called the A. D. Donnelly Hall) was built.
- 1931: Plans were made to change the cinema room and install sound screens.
- 1952: Discussions began about the building's condition.
- 1958: The National Trust started restoring the building.
- 1960 to 1968: More repairs and changes were made. Verandas were removed, and the Billiard Room was changed for general use. Toilets and walls were added.
- 1982: A paved car park and gutters were built next to the building.
Why the School of Arts is Important
The Sir Henry Parkes Memorial School of Arts is important for many reasons:
- History: It's famous as the place where Sir Henry Parkes gave his "Tenterfield Oration" on October 24, 1889. This speech was a key moment in Australia becoming a nation. The building has also been a community center for a very long time. It was the first building taken care of by the National Trust of Australia (NSW).
- Design: The building looks special because it shows four different architectural styles from different times. These styles include Victorian Rustic Gothic, Victorian Romanesque, Federation Free Classical, and Federation style.
- Community Connection: The School of Arts has always been a meeting place for the people of Tenterfield. The Main Hall is a memorial to soldiers who fought in the Boer War. The Billiard Room also became a gathering place for families whose young men were away fighting in World War I.
- Learning About the Past: The way the building grew over time shows how "Schools of Arts" changed. They started as places for both fun and learning, but later focused more on entertainment and recreation.
More to Explore
- List of National Trust properties in Australia
- Australian non-residential architectural styles
- Federation of Australia
