Parkes War Memorial – Shrine of Remembrance

The Parkes War Memorial – Shrine of Remembrance is located on Memorial Hill, which affords panoramic views of Parkes and the surrounding district. The column, with its beacon light, stands 33 metres high and has been a local feature since 1939. The Memorial is the site of the Dawn Service on Anzac Day each year.

The Memorial has a long and chequered history, taking 27 years from concept to completion.

The 1920s

In 1922, public meetings resulted in a resolution to erect a memorial to the volunteers and fallen service men and women of WWI (1914-1918). It was a time when many Australian communities sought to commemorate those who had served in the Great War.

Although land was set aside in 1923, the adverse conditions of the post war economy meant that no further action was taken until April 1927. A public meeting reaffirmed the decisions taken in 1922 and an Executive Committee was appointed to oversee the project.

In December 1927, Mr Henry Kelly, Goobang Shire Council's Engineer, was engaged to prepare three preliminary designs and a final design was approved in April 1928.

The 1930s

The Great Depression halted further progress on the project until 1934 when Mr Kelly was asked to modify his design so that the memorial could be erected and completed for less than 2,250 pounds.  In June 1936, the new design was approved and tenders invited.

The initial contractor on the project was unable to finish the work and in February 1939, a tender of 345 pounds was accepted for the completion of construction.

Although the memorial was incomplete, the lights were switched on by the President of the Parkes Branch of the RSS & AILA, Mr Clive Packham at 8 pm on Armistice Day, 11 November 1939.

At this stage, the total cost of the memorial (excluding donated items) was 2,057 pounds. The committee relied upon cash subscriptions to finance the cost of the memorial. Due to the solemn nature of the Memorial they, would not approve raising of money by dances, carnivals or the like to assist in defraying the cost.

The 1940s

During WWII, the beacon was used by trainees at Parkes RAAF station as an orientation point in the landscape.

The memorial was finally completed in 1949. Employees of the Parkes Municipal Council and the Central West County Council carried out the work. Henry Kelly was architect, engineer and supervisor from commencement to completion of the memorial. The final cost was 4,065 pounds.

The 1950s

On 22 November 1953, the memorial was unveiled by Lt. General Henry Gordon Bennett and was solemnly dedicated by Chaplain Wm. Noel Hook to the sacred memory of the men and women who made the supreme sacrifice in the WWI and WWII.

Memorial Hill and the Parkes War Memorial Rejuvenation Project

The memorial was first proposed in 1922 as a tribute to the men and women of Parkes, and surrounding districts, who were called upon to serve their country in the Great War of 1914-1918. The Great Depression delayed the project for many years while the challenges of constructing the memorial caused further delays. It was finally completed during 1949 and since then the site has become an iconic place of remembrance.

Putting forward the proposal

In 2013, a proposal was put forth to rejuvenate the Memorial and its surroundings to enhance it as a place to visit, and to reflect at the shrine of remembrance and a newly constructed Walk of Remembrance.

The site is regarded as an iconic location as a community space and tourist destination with commanding views over Parkes and the surrounding farmland. The Parkes Memorial Hill Committee was established to guide the rejuvenation project and later incorporated in order to accept tax-free donations.

The program of works

A program of works commenced with the goal to have the site ready for ANZAC Day (25 April) 2015, in preparation for the commemoration of the centenary of the landing at Gallipoli in 1915. The rejuvenation included:

• cutting back trees to provide a 360 degree view
• stripping and repainting the Memorial
• improving walking tracks and disabled access
• providing information signage on the history of Memorial Hill
• providing plaques with historical information
• updating the current directional information plinth to include Northparkes Mine and Mugincoble as well as other locations
• creating a "Theatres of War" Garden and generally landscaping the hill
• installing two artillery pieces

Community support

The project was supported by local businesses who contributed to fund raising efforts and by Northparkes Mines and other community groups including Landcare, whose volunteers spent many hours landscaping and constructing stairs and walkways.

The hard work of the community, volunteers and the committee saw the major works completed in time for the centenary celebrations. The Parkes community were delighted that the Governor-General of Australia, Sir Peter Cosgrove, travelled to Parkes to open the rejuvenated Memorial and surrounding grounds on 28 May 2015. The opening was the last official duty performed by his Excellency in his visit to Parkes.

Positive outcomes

The iconic site has been restored and access throughout the memorial precinct is available to all levels of physical capacity. Memorial Hill provides a way for residents and visitors to connect with the Memorial.

Remembrance Walk and the Theatres of War Gardens provide a setting for learning and a space to reflect.

Remembrance Walk and the Theatres of War Gardens

Australians have fought and continue to be involved in conflicts and peacekeeping all over the globe. The Theatres of War Gardens were designed to commemorate Australians who have served their country in the following theatres:

• South and East Africa
• North Africa
• Western Europe
• Middle Eastern - Mediterranean
• South West Pacific
• South-East Asia - Far East

The Remembrance Walk is flanked by six semi-circular gardens that represent the six main theatres of war where Australians have served. Plants significant to each battlefront are represented in each of the garden beds.

In representing the flora of these regions, the Parkes community takes pride in honouring the sacrifices made by those men and women of the Australian Defence Forces.

The gardens have strong design features such as gabion walls that were created as part of the upgrade and rejuvenation of Memorial Hill Lookout, and was completed for the centenary of ANZAC celebrations in 2015.

The gardens provide the local community and visitors with spectacular displays, such as the blooming of the Wild Iranian Lily and the colourful flowerings of the European garden, all set against the backdrop of vistas over Parkes and the surrounding farmland.

If you visit, don’t forget your camera.

South African Species List

Botanical and Common names:

• Crassula ovata 'Hummels Sunset Jade', commonly known as Jade
• Kniphofia pauciflora 'Lime Light', Lime Red Hot Poker
• Leucadendron stelligerum 'Harvest', Cone Bush
• Leucadendron modestum 'Strawberry Fair', Cone Bush
• Protea cynaroidies ‘King White’, White King protea
• Protea ‘Little Prince’, Protea
• Protea magnifica x prudens ‘Juliet’, Protea
• Leucadendron salignum 'Devil's Blush', Leucadendron
• Protea neriifolia 'Pink Ice', Pink ice
• Senecio mandraliscae, Blue chalk Sticks

North African Species List

Botanical and Common names:

• Aloe plicatilis, commonly known as Aloe
• Crocus sativus, Crocus -Saffron
• Euphorbia myrsinites, Spurge
• Phoenix dactylifera ‘Male’, Male Date Palm
• Senecio mandraliscae, Blue chalk Sticks

Middle Eastern Species List

Botanical and Common names:

• Convolvulus sabatius 'Morrocon Beauty', commonly known as Ground Morning Glory
• Crocus sativus, Crocus -Saffron
• Stachys byzantine 'Big Ears', Lambs Ears
• Phoenix dactylifera ‘Female’, Female Date Palm
• Phlomis russeliana, Turkish Phlomis
• Prunica granatum 'nana', Dwarf Pomegranite
• Thymus longicaulis, Mediteranean Creeping Thyme
• Tulipa eichleri, Wild Tulip

European Species List

Botanical and Common names:

• Buxus microphylla japonica, commonly known as Japanese Box
• Buxus microphylla microphylla, Korean Box
• Stachys byzantine 'Big Ears', Lambs Ears
• Cupressus sempervirens 'Glauca', Pencil Pine
• Ophiopogon japonicas 'Nanus', Dwarf Mondo Grass
• Pelagonian peltatum, red, Red ivy Leaf Geranium
• Tulipa eichleri, Wild Tulip

Asian Species List

Botanical and Common names:

• Bambusa chungii, commonly known as Silver Ghost Bamboo
• Buxus microphylla microphylla,Korean Box
• Cycad revolute, Sago Palm
• Ophiopogon japonicas 'Nanus', Dwarf Mondo Grass
• Pittosporum tobira 'Miss Muffet', Dwarf Pittosporum
• Ginko biloba, Maiden Hair Tree

Pacific Species List

Botanical and Common names:

• Bambusa chungii, commonly known as Silver Ghost Bamboo
• Dichorisandra thyrsiflora, Blue Ginger
• Hibiscus 'Tangello', Orange Hibiscis
• Ophiopogon japonicas, Mondo Grass
• Plumeria ssp, Yellow Frangipani
• Philadendron 'Xanadu', Split Leaf Philadendron
• Schefflera actinophylla 'Amate', Dwarf Schefflera
• Zingiber spectabile, Bee Hive Ginger

Parkes Airport during and after WWII

Parkes Airport is located on Henry Parkes Way, 5kms east of Parkes.

Empire Pilot Training Scheme

Parkes airport was primarily built to accommodate the Empire Pilot Training Scheme in the early 1940s. The aim of the Scheme was to provide pilots to the allied forces in the European theatre of war.

Among the various RAAF Units that made Parkes their home, a significant amount of training was undertaken by No. 8 Operational Unit (8OTU). The unit was originally formed at Narromine RAAF base in 1944 but moved to the Parkes Base after only 10 weeks. The 8OTU was formed to take over the operational training of Spitfire and Boomerang pilots. Other units that were based at Parkes included:

• 1 Air Navigation School (1941–1945)
• 2 Wireless Air Gunners School (1941–1945)
• Central Flying School RAAF (19 February 1944 – 18 September 1944)
• 87 Squadron RAAF (October 1945 – 24July 1946)

In 1943, Gough Whitlam completed a navigator’s course, including celestial navigation for the Parkes base RAAF. He left Parkes with a commission ranked as a pilot officer.

All RAAF presence was gone from the airfield by 1946.

For a time, my mother and aunt ran an R&R roadhouse for aircrew training at the Parkes airport. They provided home cooked meals and music - records and pianola, which provided a home away from home atmosphere.

: Kay McLachlan

Every Anzac Day at 10.45am, the Parkes RSL Sub Branch makes a pilgrimage to the Parkes Cemetery to honour and lay wreaths on the graves of servicemen interred in the War Graves section and other denominational areas of the cemetery.

There are graves, within this compound, of servicemen who were killed or died within the Parkes area - particularly those who lost their lives during training at the Parkes RAAF Training Base during World War II.

The Office of Australian War Graves lists the RAAF servicemen at the Parkes War Cemetery and Parkes General Cemetery.

Migrant Camp

At the conclusion of WWII, the Australian Government opened its borders to skilled migrants who were displaced from Europe as a result of the destruction of their homelands. These migrants, largely from Eastern Europe, were placed in reception centres before being allocated districts to live and work in.

Many of the former RAAF bases around Australia were used for this purpose. Parkes airport became one of those reception centres, which closed in the early 1950s.

Destitute, disillusioned and displaced

Several thousand people passed through the Parkes Camp, many of whom were from Poland. These migrants, seeking new homes in countries like Australia, had to survive new battles and hardship. Arriving here, they were destitute, disillusioned and displaced.

They spent their first few months enduring language difficulties, homesickness and loneliness. For some it was just as tough as surviving the war.

Between 1948 and 1952, Australia accepted over 150,000 migrants and their first homes were the migrant camps situated in Bathurst, Greta, Cowra and Parkes in NSW, and Bonegilla in Victoria.

A new home

Several hundred babies were born at the dedicated hospital within the Parkes migrant camp. Many migrant families subsequently adopted Parkes as their hometown, contributing substantially to the development of the Parkes community and providing a multicultural base that few country towns could emulate.