Forbes, Parkes and Peak Hill NSW

It was a bumpy and potholed road into Forbes this morning from our lovely overnight spot at Jemalong Wier. Some sections of the road are getting improved but there is a long way to go. Anyway the sun is shining and there is still frost in the nearby fields, evidence of the cold night. We stopped to have a look at one of the few sculptures along the way. This one is called Road Kill.

After using the dump point we park up and have a wonder. The money made from the gold rush era is reflected in the lovely heritage buildings. The Town Hall is the jewel of them all, opened in 1891. 

Outside the Post Office is a statue of the faithful kelpie ‘Rosa’ waiting patiently for her owner to return. 

On the balcony of the impressive Vandenberg Hotel, Premier Sir Henry Parkes addressed 2000 people in 1887. In Victoria Park we admired the War Memorial, the band stand and the fountain. 

There was also this cheeky statue nearby.

Outside the Information Office there is a statue of Ben Hall, a notorious bushranger during the early 1860’s. His career and life came to abrupt holt in 1865 when he was shot and killed by police just short of his 28th birthday. He is buried in the cemetery.

Further up the Newell Highway is Parkes which most well known for The Dish but before we drive there we spot a statue of Elvis in the park. This is because every year the town comes alive with Elvis impersonators from all over the world for the festival held in January.

We drive up to Memorial Hill  where a 33m high Shrine of Remembrance stands over Parkes. 

We then take roads less travelled… just to avoid the Newell. We eventually arrive at The Dish made famous in its roll in the 1969 Moon Landing (receiving pictures from Apollo 11)  portrayed in the 2000 movie of the same name. In the Visitor Discovery Centre we learn all about this great 64m radio telescope that was built in 1961 but has been continuously upgraded. It has been involved in many other missions with its space tracking capabilities. Its main purpose is to read radio waves especially from the gas in other galaxies. Anyway it’s very complex and scientific but amazing. 

We continue in the Newell Highway, heading north to Peak Hill to have a walk around the now closed (2001) Open Cut Gold Mine. 

They tried to blow this rock up to extract the gold but it failed so they have left it as is with approx $5,500 worth of gold in it.

We enjoy our explore and head 7km out of town to Bogan Wier where we enjoy a pleasant afternoon in the bank of the river in the sunshine.