Grave marker. A bronze plaque marks the final resting place of Sir Henry Parkes. This is more than just a grave. It’s a monument to a man who helped shape Australia.
Sir Henry Parkes Grave is located in Faulconbridge Cemetery. He was buried here on April 27 1896. The ceremony was private. Parkes rests beside his first wife and other family members.
Who was Sir Henry Parkes? He was a politician in the colonial era. He criticised convict transportation. Parkes is known as the Founder of Australian Federation. He pushed for unification of the six colonies. Parkes also served as Premier of New South Wales. He was the longest-serving premier but not consecutively.
Born in England on May 27 1815, Henry Parkes had humble beginnings. His family faced financial struggles. He arrived in Australia as a bounty immigrant in 1839. He came with his wife Clarinda.
Parkes’s early life in Australia involved various jobs. He worked as a station-hand and a customs officer. He also worked as a bone and ivory turner. Later, in 1850, he became the proprietor of the Empire newspaper.
His political career began in 1854. He became a member of the New South Wales Parliament. Parkes served until 1894. He is remembered for developing education and railways in New South Wales. His greatest achievement was his work toward federation. This earned him the title Father of Federation.
In 1877, Parkes moved to the Blue Mountains. He bought 600 acres in Faulconbridge. The town was named after his home Faulconbridge House. Faulconbridge was his mother’s maiden name.
Parkes married three times. His first wife Clarinda Varney died in 1888. He then married Eleanor Dixon in 1889. His final marriage was to Julia Lynch in 1895.
The bronze plaque on Sir Henry Parkes Grave has an interesting history. It was originally placed in 1915. This commemorated the centenary of his birth. The plaque was stolen in 1940. It was later replaced.
The inscription on the plaque is a tribute to Parkes. It reads that the Government and people of Australia remember his patriotic example. They admire his public service to New South Wales, Australia and the British Empire.
Another plaque on the railing around the grave details his achievements. It lists him as the Father of Australian Federation. It also notes he was five times Prime Minister of New South Wales. The plaque mentions his arrival in Australia and his various occupations.
Sir Henry Parkes’s legacy is significant. He was a key figure in Australian history. His contributions to federation and New South Wales are still remembered today.
Standing here, at Sir Henry Parkes Grave, you are at a site that marks the end of one chapter. However, it also signifies the continuation of Australian progress. His vision of a united Australia lives on.