George Woolnough

Who is George Woolnough?

George Woolnough was a saddler in Tenterfield, New South Wales from 1908 until his retirement in 1960.

Woolnough's grandson was Peter Allen, a flamboyant cabaret singer who immortalised Woolnough with the song Tenterfield Saddler. Woolnough's son Dick Woolnough become a violent alcoholic upon returning from World War II, eventually shooting and killing himself. Woolnough never understood, nor got over this devastating event.

Built in 1860 of quarried blue granite, the Tenterfield Saddlery in which George Woolnough worked is National Trust listed.

On November 26, 2005 an extension of the Tenterfield library was opened and named the "George Woolnough Wing."

George Woolnough owned terrier dogs, like those bred by many people in the district. On account of George's subsequent fame immortalised in song, the fame of the town, and the known concentration of breeders in the area, this distinctly Australian breed was named the Tenterfield Terrier in 1993.