A beloved local destination is preparing to welcome visitors once again, with the reopening of Glenrock Gardens under the new ownership of Camille and Duayne Pearce. The historic gardens will officially reopen to the community on 3 April, coinciding with this year’s Tenterfield Autumn Festival, with a special fashion parade set among the autumn colours of the grounds.
The event, presented in partnership with Sherelle Fashions, will take place on the Friday afternoon of the festival weekend, offering guests the chance to enjoy an elegant afternoon of fashion, food, and garden views.
Camille Pearce said the opportunity to host the event as part of the gardens’ reopening felt like the perfect way to reconnect the space with the local community.
“We’re doing a fashion parade in conjunction with the Autumn Festival,” she said. “The festival organisers asked us, as Glenrock is opening back up to the community, if we would be able to host the fashion parade.”
The gardens and café will open from Friday through to Monday from 8.30 am to 3 pm, with Friday’s café service finishing slightly earlier to allow preparations for the afternoon event.
“On the Friday, we’ll close at two to get ready for the fashion parade at three,” Ms Pearce said.
“Fashion parade guests can come along for afternoon tea and a few drinks, and tickets are available through the Autumn Festival website.”
For Ms Pearce, the collaboration between the gardens and the fashion showcase will help highlight both local creativity and the charm of the historic venue.
“We’re really excited to be part of the community and showcase Sherelle and Glenrock together as part of our opening day, which is really exciting,” she said.
The reopening marks a new chapter for the property, which has long held a special place in the memories of locals and visitors alike.
According to Ms Pearce, the response from the community since news of the reopening has been overwhelmingly positive.
“The community has just been so welcoming,” she said.
“The gardens hold a lot of special memories for a lot of people in the area, so it’s been lovely hearing all the stories from people who’ve visited here over the years.”
The reopening also includes accommodation options on the property, with both the cottage and main house now available for guests.
Demand has already been strong ahead of the festival weekend.
“The cottage is booked out,” Ms Pearce said. “It’s nearly fully booked for April and May on the weekends, and June is already starting to fill up as well.”
The larger house accommodation is expected to appeal to families and groups travelling together to explore the region.
“With the house available now, we’re hoping families and friend groups can come and enjoy the space together,” she said.
Looking ahead, the Pearce family hopes the gardens will become part of a broader visitor experience in the region, with future plans to offer accommodation and café packages for guests.
The couple say they are passionate about encouraging more people to explore regional destinations like Tenterfield.
“We love country areas and staying in new places and experiencing local communities,” Ms Pearce said.
“We’ve got plans to share Glenrock with more people and hopefully bring more visitors to the Tenterfield area.”
With gardens reopening, accommodation filling quickly, and a stylish festival event set among the autumn leaves, the revival of Glenrock Gardens is shaping up to be a welcome addition to the town’s growing tourism offering.
Tickets are on sale now via trybooking.
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