This fascinating place demanded
a day-long stopover to explore the tantalising story of a famous local resident
immortalised in a very famous song. Everyone knows Peter Allen’s song
“Tenterfield Saddler”, released in 1972, that tells the story of three
generations of his family over three verses. The first verse was about Peter’s
grandfather George Woolnough, after whom the title refers. We learned that the
words in the first verse are indeed very true. George’s saddlery building is
still there in High Street, and he ran his business, and sat on his verandah,
for 52 years before retiring in 1960. As the song says – “The late George Woolnough, worked in High
Street – for 52 years, he sat on his verandah”. It remains open for anyone to
walk through its three small rooms, filled with old leathering tools and sewing
machines.
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"For 52 years he sat on his verandah" - this verandah. |
The second line mentions how
George “lived on manners”, which I took to mean that he was a polite gentlemen.
What it actually means is that while his shop was on High Street, he lived in
his house on Manners Street, which was also where our caravan park was located.
So George just lived down the road from where we stayed. In the middle of town
is the library, and indeed it does have a new wing that was recently built and
named as the George Woolnough Wing. As the song says - “He lived without sin,
they’re building a library to him”.
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The "George Woolnough Wing" of the Tenterfield library. |
I met an old fella in the town
called Wayne, who was in his 70s and a bikie, and he went to school with Peter
Allen and knew old George. He told me that the Tenterfield Saddler really was a
thorough gentleman, always giving his time to have a yarn and help you out.
Wayne felt let down by Peter’s song, saying that it just cashed in on George’s
story for Peter’s financial gain. That may be true but that song has brought
world-wide attention to this small Aussie rural town. By the way, the town will be holding a "Peter Allen Festival" in a few weeks.
I finished this journey by
seeking, and finding, George’s final resting place at the Tenterfield cemetery,
buried next to his wife. He died in 1963, only three years after retiring. He
would never get to hear the music of his famous grandson.
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