Henry Parkes delivers the Tenterfield Oration On 24 October 1889, the Tenterfield Oration was delivered by Henry Parkes, calling for the Federation of the states. The Tenterfield Oration was a speech given by Sir Henry Parkes, Premier of the Colony of New South Wales at the Tenterfield School of Arts in Tenterfield, in rural New South Wales, Australia.  In the Oration, Parkes called for the Federation of … Continue reading On this day (Australia): In 1889, the Tenterfield Oration was delivered by Henry Parkes, calling for the Federation of the states