TENTERFIELD, NSW. — Sir Henry Parkes was a staunch supporter of Australian culture and identity. As a politician, he is perhaps best remembered for his famous Tenterfield Oration, delivered on October 24, 1889, at the Tenterfield School of Arts.
In this speech, he advocated the Federation of the six Australian colonies. Tenterfield was selected as the place to make his stand as it was part of New South Wales but a far distance from Sydney.
This meant that the town was disadvantaged by the steep tariffs imposed on the transport of goods across the border to Queensland and the closer trade centre of Brisbane.
“I believe that the time has come, and if two Governments set an example, the others must soon of necessity follow …
“The opportunity has arisen for the consideration of this great subject and I believe that the time is at hand … when this thing will be done.
“Indeed, this great thing will have to be done, and to put it off will only tend to make the difficulties which stand in the way, greater,” Sir Parkes said as he concluded his oration.
His promotion of Federation was based on the fact that it would enable free trade across the borders and national defence.
Prompted by Parkes’ Tenterfield Oration, the colonies agreed to send delegates to a Constitutional Conference in Melbourne in 1890. This initiated the process of drafting and adopting the Commonwealth Constitution over the course of the 1890s, ultimately leading to the unification of the colonies and the establishment of a system of federalism in Australia.
Henry Parkes was born in Warwickshire, England, on May 27, 1815. A failed business venture prompted him to seek passage with his wife to Australia, and he arrived in Sydney in 1839.
Moving up from a position of farmer’s labourer to clerk, to managing his own business, a number of failed ventures indicated that he did not have good business acumen.
He was first elected to the New South Wales Parliament in 1854, and was Premier of New South Wales several times between 1872 and 1891.
