With Centenary Cottage historical museum shaping up to be the lynchpin of a proposed National Monument precinct dedicated to federation, a recent $28,880 Regional Cultural Grant grant could be just the beginning.
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The funding will refurbish and improve visitor access at the museum.
"Over many years Tenterfield Historical Society has collected and preserved some of the shire's most important history," MP Thomas George said.
"By improving access at the museum, a wider range of people will be able to experience Tenterfield's rich history."
The Centenary Cottage campus is home to the Cottage Museum, General Sir Harry Charvel Gallery and Petrie Cottage, a typical workman's residence from the 1860's.
The money will go towards general repairs and refurbishing of the floorboards, as well as providing a disabled toilet.
A protective roof will also be constructed over the iconic bark hut in the yard area. The hut heralds bush practices of the past where itinerant workers such as shepherds and trappers built semi-permanent structures of bark, invariably with a wooden block outside the door for the occupant to sit on in the evenings.
The museum's replica hut was built 30 years ago by society members, with its roof replaced in 2012 by members of the Lions Club with bark donated by Bernie Ford. The hut demonstrates a slice of history and its accompanying stories, well worth preserving.
Mr George was pleased the planned improvements would demonstrate it is possible to do restoration work while still preserving the original character.
The museum is crammed with memorabilia that begs a multi-generational family visit, so grandparents and great-grandparents can revisit their younger days and trigger some stories of their past to share.
