Parkes, New South Wales, Australia

The statue of Sir Henry Parkes in Parkes, New South Wales
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sir_Henry_Parkes_statue_in_Parkes_NSW.jpg
Author: Amanda Slater


Parkes is a town in the central part of New South Wales, Australia. Located at an elevation of 324 m (1,063 ft), it has a population of around 10,000 people (2012 estimate).

The history of Parkes goes back to 1853, when a settlement was established here. Due to the abundance of the kurrajong trees, it was called Currajong. Since then, it has undergone name change twice, to Bushmans's and finally to Parkes in 1873. The present name was given in honor of Sir Henry Parkes, who was the lead player in forming Australia as a federated country.

Parkes became a major mining site after gold was found here in the 1870s. That led to a gold rush that saw its population rising rapidly. Although the gold rush is now over, the town is still a mining site and base for a number of mining companies. Farming is also a major component of the local economy, centering on wheat and wool production.

Radio telescope of Parkes Observatory
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Parkes_Radio_Telescope_09.jpg
Author: Diceman Stephen West

Visiting Parkes

From Sydney, take Metroad 4 heading west, and continue on National Route A32 until Orange. Then take the State Route 90 continuing west until you reach Parkes.

Places of Interest in Parkes

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