Tamworth, Inverell, Glen Innes and Tenterfield

Tamworth, NSW

Tamworth was our next destination, the country music capital of Australia. Of course a visit to the Big Golden Guitar and Museum is a "must do" and a visit to the lookout revealed the memorial to country music artist Smokey Dawson and his wife, Dot.

Big Golden Guitar, Tamworth, NSW



"Larry"

Tamworth also has a huge Equestrian and Livestock Centre where the Australian Stock Horse Association was holding its championships.

The Marsupial Park and Bird Aviary is well worth a visit. Crawf made friends with a bird named Larry.



Nundle Dog Races

Sunday was very different as we spent the day at the Nundle Dog Races. Dogs of all sizes, shapes and breeds were represented. Races and novelty events such as dog high jumps and best dressed dogs and owners were the order of the day.

Our next stop was near Inverell to visit some friends. While there we had a look around Inverell and visited Copeton Dam.

Glen Innes
We then returned to Glen Innes, an area settled by Celtic migrants because of its similarity to their homelands. Beautiful hills and trees provide great scenery at this time of year with magnificent autumn colour.


The Standing Stones, Glen Innes, NSW

Glen Innes is also a renowned gem fossicking area, especially sapphires.
The highlight of a visit to Glen Innes is the "Standing Stones", 40 granite monoliths which form a circle of 24 stones representing 24 hour of the day, three central stones; The Australis Stone for all Australians, a link between old and new; The Gaelic Stone is for Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man; and The Brythonic Stone is for Wales, Cornwall and Brittany. The Southern Cross is comprised of five stones, marking North, South, East and West and another inside the circle of 24. The stones are accurately positioned to indicate the dawns and sunsets of the summer and winter solstices which are very important dates to the Celtic communities for planting and harvesting. Several other stones represent significant rituals and ceremonies of Celtic importance.

Town Hall, Glen Innes, NSW

Glen Innes also has a great museum within the old hospital building, another museum we were nearly locked in at closing time. Glen Innes also has its own registered tartan.

Standing Stones, Glen Innes, NSW





Tenterfield
Tenterfield was our next stop after passing some old railway towns, Dundee, Bolivia and Sandy Flats.

Tenterfield is a very hilly town and the wind seems to blow all day and stop at night. We took a scenic drive around the area, 

Tenterfield, NSW

viewing some huge rocks and then visited Mt Mackenzie lookout from where we could see the town and district as far as the Queensland border.

Rail Museum, Tenterfield, NSW

The Railway Museum is well presented and the old building in town are great for photographic opportunities.

School of Arts, Tenterfield, NSW

Of course Tenterfield is most famous for its connection to Sir Henry Parkes, "the Father of Federation" who made his famous speech advocating the formation of the Federation of Australia in the Tenterfield School of Arts.
Another claim to fame is

Tenterfield Saddler's Shop

with Peter Allen's song "Tenterfield Saddler" about his grandfather who was the saddler in the town for many years. The shop is still there and the parking signs in front of the shop indicate that only horses can stop there. Captain Thunderbolt, Fredrick Ward, was a notorious bushranger well known in the area and had a hide-out nearby.