Tenterfield’s Sir Henry Parkes Memorial School of Arts began an important new chapter in an already illustrious history when Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson unveiled the restored and refurbished facility on 21 July 2001.
An enthusiastic crowd of several hundred witnessed the relaunch before experiencing the new amenities and functions of the multi faceted complex.
The Federal Government’s National Centenary of Federation Grants Scheme provided $2.75 million towards the restoration of the Tenterfield School of Arts. Works included an upgraded library, a boutique theatre/performance space and state of the art cultural museum, resulting in a nationally acclaimed cultural facility unequalled in the region.
The School of Arts has a strong symbolic association with the movement that led to the Federation of the Australian colonies and the creation of an Australian nation. The school is the site where Sir Henry Parkes delivered his famous ‘Tenterfield Oration’ on October 24, 1889 calling for the Federation of the Australian colonies.
The significance of that speech by the then NSW Premier is that it constituted a public commitment by Parkes that he was ready to cooperate, on New South Wales’ behalf, with the other colonies in working towards Federation.
“We’re very proud of the fact that it was Tenterfield, a rural community, where life was given to the march towards national unity following the achievement of Federation sparked by Sir Henry Parkes’ Tenterfield Oration,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
The School of Arts has, for many years, been valued by the community for having, since its construction through to the present day, been the home of Tenterfield’s Reading Rooms, Literary Institute, Library, and town meeting halls. Built in four major stages, 1876, 1884, 1903 and 1913, each building has a different architectural style. The School of Arts today is a complex of these four separate buildings.
For further information, contact Mark van Laarhoven, Tenterfield Shire Centenary of Federation Coordinator, telephone (02) 6736 4666.
