Traditional Owners

The original inhabitants of Tenterfield Shire were the Jukembal Aboriginal people.

Settlement history

European settlement dates from the 1830s, with land used mainly for grazing. Population was minimal until the 1850s when the township of Tenterfield was established. Growth took place during the late 1800s, aided by the opening of railway lines, mining and the establishment of orchards and market gardens. The population was relatively stable from the 1970s, between 6,400 and 6,800 people.

Land use

Tenterfield Shire is a predominantly rural area, with a township at Tenterfield and villages at Drake, Jennings, Legume, Liston, Mingoola, Torrington and Urbenville. About half of the population lives in the township of Tenterfield. Tenterfield Shire encompasses a total land area of about 7,333 square kilometres. Rural land is used largely for cattle grazing, sheep grazing and timber production, with some crop growing. Tourism is also an important industry.

Transport

Tenterfield Shire is served by the Bruxner Highway and the New England Highway.

Major features

• Major features of Tenterfield Shire include Bald Rock National Park,
• Basket Swamp National Park,
• Boonoo Boonoo National Park,
• Capoompeta National Park,
• Koreelah National Park,
• Maryland National Park,
• Mount Clunie National Park,
• Timbarra National Park,
• Tooloom National Park,
• Washpool National Park,
• Currys Gap State Conservation Area,
• Torrington State Conservation Area,
• Bluff River Nature Reserve,
• Bolivia Hill Nature Reserve,
• Captains Creek Nature Reserve,
• Demon Nature Reserve,
• Gibraltar Nature Reserve,
• Mount Mackenzie Nature Reserve,
• Woollool Woolloolni Aboriginal Place,
• Tenterfield Railway Museum,
• Urbenville Pioneer Cottage Museum,
• Tenterfield Centenary Cottage Museum,
• Sir Henry Parkes Museum,
• Tenterfield Golf Club,
• TAFE NSW (Tenterfield Campus),
• various wineries and numerous state forests.

Included areas