History Parkes

stories, photos, anecdotes….. sharing the past

Category Archives: Alectown

A collection of images of The Dish. On top left Jo McKeowan's orginal photograph of her children - Donal (7 years old) & Lyn (5 years old) that Jesse Woods used as inspiration for her painting; bottom left local farmers in 1965 - Maurice Puttock (left) and "Austie" Helm (right); bottom inset shows the control room during the Apollo 11 mission (from left to right) John Bolton, Robert Taylor (NASA) and Taffy Bowen; far right Phillipa O'Donnell won a prize to play cricket on The Dish as part of the 50th Anniversary celebrations; and centre a fantastic photograph of The Dish.

The Dish – Celebrating 60 years of the Parkes Radio Telescope

To many people the highlight of the Parkes Radio Telescope (aka The Dish) will have been assisting NASA to televise the moon landing in 1969. The Parkes Radio Telescope, along … Continue reading →

October 28, 2021 · Leave a comment
The feature picture includes front page of Parkes Champion Post (left); photograph of The Dish at night (centre) and a montage of the many ways The Dish is connected to the Parkes community.

The Dish – Connecting Parkes & the World to the Moon

July 21st, 2019 marks the 50th Anniversary of man landing on the moon. A unique time in the history of humanity, one that was watched on television by one fifth … Continue reading →

July 18, 2019 · 2 Comments

Len Unger – 100 years in the Parkes Shire

PLEASE NOTE: The oral history recording of Len Unger was conducted on his 100th birthday in his room at Rosedurnate Aged Care Plus Centre. There are activities within the building, … Continue reading →

November 21, 2018 · Leave a comment
Some of the images of November 1953 from Parkes and around the world. Clockwise from top left: Hungary and England walk out at Wembley on 25 November 1953. England lose at home for the first time 6-3 in what is now known as the Match of the Century; Dean Martin's "That's Amore" - now a signature song of his - first debuted in 1953 and was one of the most popular singles for the year; the Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket, piloted by Scott Crossfield, becomes the first manned aircraft to reach Mach 2 on November 20; "The Robe" was one of the most popular films of 1953, earning an estimated $32 million worldwide; a local advertisement for pre-cut homes in 5 designs by local builders Vanderfield & Reid; a selection of women's fashion for 1953; Melbourne Cup winning jockey, Jack Purtell, watches on as Governor-General William Slim makes the presentation; November 9 saw the death of Welsh poet and author, Dylan Thomas; and one of the Parkes department stores, McGlynn's, advertising their new Toyland - just seven weeks before Christmas!

A Look Back At…. November 1953

Some of the images of November 1953 from Parkes and around the world. Clockwise from top left: Hungary and England walk out at Wembley on 25 November 1953. England lose … Continue reading →

July 31, 2018 · 1 Comment

Kennedy County

  Continuing our series on the counties of the early colony of New South Wales, this post focuses on the county of Kennedy. Part of the 141 counties of New … Continue reading →

January 23, 2018 · Leave a comment
Images of 1972: Australian postage stamp commemorating 50th Anniversary of the Country Women's Association Designed by Val Mason, issued 18th April 1972 with perforation 13½ x 13½; four of the icons for Olympic Games events, the pictograms by Otl Aicher for the Munich Games; inset a typical seventies font; and maxi dresses, mini skirts, knee socks and patterns that started occuring in 1972. Sources: Australian Stamp catalogue website; Super Seventies website; Iconutopia; Huffington Post.

A look back at… the spring of 1972

This post will continue to highlight a particular time in the vast history of the Parkes Shire, focusing on the spring of 1972. The main sources will be microfilm of … Continue reading →

October 20, 2017 · 3 Comments
Cropped photograph of the front page of Parkes Champion Post featuring visiting Max (11) and Casey (9) who were travelling with their parents to Noosa and stopped over in Parkes the very day that it snowed! Source: Parkes Champion Post Friday June 24, 2005 page 1

Snow in Parkes Shire

Mentioning the weather of the Parkes Shire, to residents or those further afield, and most people will immediately think of the summer heat! The summer heat can be memorable, but … Continue reading →

June 16, 2017 · Leave a comment
The “Alectown Ace” posing next to his home town’s sign. [Digital image]. (2016, April 28). Retrieved July 08, 2016, from http://www.parkeschampionpost.com.au/story/3875674/scott-poised-for-dream-run/

Alectown – a town of gold and stars!

Nestled between Parkes and Peak Hill lies the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it village of Alectown. The last time Alectown featured in Australian Bureau of Statistics figures was in 2006, when the population was … Continue reading →

May 22, 2017 · Leave a comment
One of several signs welcoming the many visitors to Parkes Shire. Source: Tamsin Slater https://www.flickr.com/photos/offchurch-tam/3454709287/in/pool-coventry-twin-cities/ used by permission with Creative Commons

The Rise, Fall and Rise of the Population of the Parkes Shire Part 1 1865-1945

In August the latest census was conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and HistoryParkes thought it would be interesting to look at how the population of the Parkes Shire has … Continue reading →

October 29, 2016 · Leave a comment
Photograph of the front side of Parkes Library's History Week display. The theme this year is Neighbours. Photograph by Dan Fredericks (Parkes Shire Library) taken September 2, 2016

History Week 2016 – Library Display

Parkes Library staff love organising and setting up displays for the public to view. September 3rd – 11th is NSW History Week which gives us a great reason to put … Continue reading →

September 7, 2016 · Leave a comment

Navigation

Older posts

Blog at WordPress.com.