Named in honour of Sir Henry Parkes KCMG GCMG, 1815–96. Parkes was a statesman who advocated for electoral and constitutional reform in the colony and land reform. As a result of his early promotion of federation of the colonies, Parkes is known as the 'Father of Federation'.
Area
393 413 sq km
Location Description:
Parkes covers an area from the Queensland border in the North including Unincorporated NSW, the City Councils of Broken Hill and Dubbo and the Shire Councils of Central Darling, Cobar, Lachlan, Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Walgett, Moree Plains, Narrabri, Coonamble, Warren, Narromine, Gilgandra, Warrumbungle, Gunnedah and part of Gwydir. The main towns include Bourke, Brewarrina, Broken Hill, Cobar, Condobolin, Coonabarabran, Coonamble, Dubbo, Gilgandra, Ivanhoe, Menindee, Moree, Narrabri, Nyngan, Tibooburra, Walgett, Warren and Wilcannia. This description reflects local government areas in existence in 2015.
Demographic rating:
Rural – outside capital cities and without majority of enrolment in major provincial cities.