Parkes
NSW 2870 • Rest of NSW
About Parkes
Parkes sits at the crossroads of Australia, where the Newell and Mitchell Highways meet about 360 kilometres west of Sydney. This central-western town of roughly 11,300 residents is famous for the Dish - the radio telescope that received Apollo 11's moon landing footage. The annual Elvis Festival has also put it on the map.
Beyond the tourist attractions, Parkes functions as a practical rural service centre. Farming families depend on its facilities, while retirees appreciate the affordable country lifestyle. The community is genuinely friendly in that unselfconscious country way - people wave to strangers and stop to chat. The Elvis Festival reveals the town's capacity for fun, but year-round it's simply a pleasant country town doing country town things well.
Parkes falls under postcode 2870 and is governed by Parkes Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Orange electorate.
Location
Supermarkets Nearby
-
ColesBogan Street Parkes 2870 NSW -
Woolworths299 Clarinda Street Parkes 2870 NSW
Schools
-
37a High Street
-
Middleton Public School ICSEA 891Medlyn St
-
243 Back Trundle Road
-
Parkes East Public School ICSEA 9491-3 Thornbury St
-
Parkes High School ICSEA 894Albert St
-
Parkes Public School ICSEA 89677-85 Currajong St
Heritage-Listed Places
There are 2 heritage-listed places in or near Parkes, listed on the NSW State Heritage Register.
Housing Costs 2021 Census
Demographics
Population Growth
Gender Distribution (Census 2021)
Income Comparison
Country of Birth 2021 Census
Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)
- 1. England 107
- 2. Philippines 79
- 3. New Zealand 71
- 4. South Africa 46
- 5. China 29
- 6. Nepal 28
- 7. India 22
- 8. Netherlands 21
- 9. Scotland 21
- 10. Fiji 14
- 11. Ireland 14
- 12. Germany 13
- 13. Thailand 13
- 14. Sri Lanka 12
- 15. Wales 12
Ancestry 2021 Census
Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)