Sheep graze near the Parkes Radio Telescope

 

Parkes
Major centre famous for the huge Parkes telescope situated to the north of the town.
Parkes is a country town of some 10 500 people situated on the Newell Highway between Forbes and Peak Hill, 364 km west of Sydney and 339 m above sea-level. A rural service centre with a strong commercial and industrial base Parkes possesses an expanding economy and population, thanks in part to a wool combing plant and the North Parkes copper and gold mine, the largest metal mine in NSW, which opened in 1994. It is a major wheat-storage centre in a rural district that also produces other crops, wool and livestock.

The first Europeans in the district were the exploratory party of John Oxley who passed by in 1817 on one of the first inland expeditions. The area was occupied by the Wiradjuri people who were encountered in 1835 when Thomas Mitchell's expedition camped just to the north of town. Mitchell wrote of their sincerity, intelligence, resourcefulness and unaffected nature. Squatters may have been in the area by this time but the first official license for the Parkes area was issued in 1839.

Reef gold was located a little to the north of the present townsite in 1862, after a major find at Forbes the previous year had sparked the Lachlan goldrush. A tent city of 10 000 emerged almost overnight. It was known as 'Currajong' after the large number of currajong trees in the vicinity. That field was worked for about 5 years then rapidly declined.

However, other major finds was made in the area in 1871 and a second rush was soon under way. One of the most substantial was made at Bushmans Hill, named after a Mr Bush who was one of the owners. A settlement, also known as Bushmans, developed around the mine which soon had 30 stamper batteries working 24 hours a day. From 1871 to 1873 about 1400 kg of gold was turned up. A hotel was quickly established (on the site now occupied by the Cambridge Hotel), followed by a court of petty sessions, another hotel, the first bank, a Methodist Church and a public school.

Then governor of NSW, Henry Parkes, visited what had become one of NSW's most profitable goldfields in 1873 and, at the end of the year, Bushmans was renamed Parkes (in 1887 the main street became known as Clarinda St in honour of his wife).

By the time Parkes was declared a municipality in 1883 the initial wave of gold fever had passed and free selectors had begun to take advantage of the Robertson Land Act, taking up smaller allotments of land and establishing the agriculture which has since become a mainstay of the town and area.

Wheat was first grown 3 km north of Parkes in 1865 and a local flour mill opened in 1871. Agricultural production expanded when the railway arrived in 1893 to the great economic benefit of the town - an effect enhanced when the line to Broken Hill was opened in 1927. When the standard-gauge rail system was completed in 1969 Parkes became the marshalling and dispersal terminal for eastern Australia.

In 1899 Bushmans reached its maximum depth of 370 m but mining ceased in 1914. An attempt to revive operations in the 1930s failed due to flooding.

In 1921 the first wheat silos were built at the railhead and the Mungincobie wheat terminal, covering 2 ha and holding 4 million bushels, was erected in 1952.

From 1959-1961 the CSIRO built the first big-dish antenna radio telescope in the Southern Hemisphere to the north of Parkes. One of the world's most powerful it has played a vital role in the detection of quasars and pulsars.

Of some historic interest is the fact poet Harry Morant, made famous by the 1980 film, Breaker Morant, worked as a stockman in the area shortly before enlisting for the Boer War, during which he was executed by the British authorities.

Parkes Festival of Sport is held at Easter. The Jazz Tridium is a weekend festival held in June with a street parade, picnic races and music in the streets. The annual agricultural show is held in August and the Country Music Jamboree in October.

 

Things to see:  

 

The stream train outside the Parkes Tourist Centre in Kelly Reserve

 

Tourist Information and Kelly Reserve
The tourist information centre is located in Kelly Reserve, on the western side of the Newell Highway on the northern outskirts of town. It is open from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. on weekdays and from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. on weekends, tel: (02) 6862 4365. There are details available for a self-drive tour, an historic walk around North Parkes and the Parkes Heart Smart Walk, a 14-km track designed for those recovering from a heart attack.

Kelly Reserve contains an old steam locomotive, barbecues, play facilities and Bushmans Dam which was originally created to supply water to the miners of Bushmans Hill on the other side of the highway. Farmers used the dam to replenish water for their stock in droughts and it remained the town's water supply until a reticulated system was introduced.

 

Bushman's Hill
The hill was the site of the goldmine which underscored the town's establishment. All that remains is an old chimney and the concrete foundations which bore the steam engines that ran the stamping batteries. 'History Through the Trees' is a leisure walk with Aboriginal signs and paintings around the barbecue area. From atop the hill there are good views of the town.

 

Pioneer Park
Just north of the information centre, on the eastern side of the highway, is Pioneer Park which has a collection of antique machinery, historic agricultural implements, two old churches and a school. It is open, for a small fee, from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. every day but Sunday, or by appointment, tel: (02) 6862 3732.

 

Historic Buildings
At the corner of Currajong and Court Sts is an historic precinct featuring the courthouse, post office and police station. The courthouse was built 1895-98 to a design of W.L. Vernon. It replaced an earlier courthouse which was built as the same time as James Barnet's police station (1875). The post office (c.1880) is another Barnet design, albeit altered by Vernon. The Royal Hotel at 217 Clarinda St dates from 1881.

One of the earliest surviving buildings is Balmoral Mansion, built by William Hazelhurst who owned the Phoenix Mine. It boasts some fine cast-iron lacework, Italian marble, a quality wooden staircase and stained-glass windows. Not surprisingly, perhaps, Hazelhurst died almost penniless. It is located on the eastern side of Hill St, opposite the school, near the Church St intersection.

 

Memorial Hill
There are excellent views from the lookout on Memorial Hill, a popular picnic spot that is particularly enjoyable at night. It is located at the eastern end of Bushman St. The 35-m Shrine of Remembrance column is a local landmark. The Arboretum and Rotary Park are on the northern side of the approach to the hill. There are number of walks.

 

Motor Museum and Craft Corner
The Craft Corner, at the intersection of Bogan and Dalton Sts, is open from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. from Monday to Saturday and on Sundays during school holidays and long weekends.

The Craft Corner is the access point to the privately-owned motor museum with vintage cars dating from 1904 to 1952. There is a small entry fee. Ring (02) 6862 1975 after hours.

 

 

Parkes Radio Telescope

 

Radio Telescope
From 1959-1961 the CSIRO built the first big-dish antenna radio telescope in the Southern Hemisphere to the north of Parkes (64 metres in diameter). The site was chosen owing to the lack of high winds and radio interference. One of the world's most powerful telescopes, its primary role is in collecting, magnifying and analysing radio waves. It has played a vital role in the detection of quasars, the first pulsars outside of the Milky Way galaxy and the centre of an exploding galaxy at the extreme edge of the known universe. It also relays signals for NASA exploratory missions, including the Apollo 11 moonshot in 1969. In 1988 it was conjoined with the Coonabarabran dish and six Narrabri dishes to form the 'Australia Telescope'.

There is an audio-visual display and staff are available to answer questions. The visitors' centre has interactive elements, computer tours, a working model of the telescope, a hologram, a live connection with the control room computers, project material, souvenirs and posters. It is open daily from 8.30 a.m. to 4.15 p.m. Admision is free although there is a small charge for the theatrette. There are picnic facilities and free barbeques.

The centre caters to school groups with lessons, talks, class material and night-time viewings, tel: (02) 6861 1777. To get there head north on the highway for 20 km then turn right and follow Telescope Rd for 6 km.

 

Goobang National Park
One of the most recently declared national parks, Goobang is a long but narrow reserve adjoining the Curumbenya Nature Reserve, about 25 km east of Parkes. It consists of the Hervey, Curumbenya and Bumberry mountain ranges and surrounding valleys. There is a diversity of vegetation types, including yellow box and white box. Over 300 plant species have been recorded, including 13 orchid species. There are 13 rare and endangered animal species, including the koala, squirrel glider, brush-tailed rock wallaby, regent honeyeater, glossy black cockatoo and superb parrot.

Although there are currently no visitors' facilities there are opportunities for bushwalking, picnicking, camping, photography and nature studies. Access to the southern end of the park is from the eastbound road to Manildra and Orange. The central section can be visited from the north-easterly road to Wellington.

 

Bumberry Dam
Bumberry Dam, built in 1896, is a popular boating venue with picnic facilities. Head east on the Orange Rd for 12 km and turn off at the small church (it is another 12 km).

 

Mungincobie Wheat Complex
Arrangements can be made at the visitors' centre for weekday inspections of the computerised Mungincoble Wheat Terminal complex, a storage centre covering 2 ha and holding 4 million bushels. It is located 8 km from Parkes on the Eugowra Rd.

 

 

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Parkes