Sister Cities Australia Award Winner
Category Entered:	Category No. 5 | Tourism & Trade Project
Entrant Name:	Parkes Shire Council
Name of Project:	The Henry Parkes Centre

Executive Summary:

The Henry Parkes Centre is a project of Parkes Shire Council to further develop the tourism and cultural infrastructure of the Central Western Region of New South Wales.

The project is centered on the notion that in 1867 Sir Henry Parkes espoused the concept of Federation for Australia and championed this cause for more than 20 years. He is rightfully regarded as "The Father of Federation".

Council believes that the Australian people should celebrate the foundation of a unified nation, but also reflect upon the dedication and commitment of people like Sir Henry in achieving Federation.

Council has consolidated a prominent site on the Newell Highway in north Parkes as the site for then Henry Parkes Centre. The Newell will deliver 1.5 million vehicle movements past the site annually.

The Henry Parkes Centre will include the Historical Museum, Antique Machinery Museum, Motor Museum, Visitor Information Centre and Moat Cottage.

At the present time (March 31, 2009), the Moat Cottage and the main building which now houses the Parkes Museum have been completed.

It is planned to move the museum to a new location and convert the present building into the Parkes visitor Information Centre (which will be relocated from Kelly Reserve where it is presently located).

In providing a modern Visitor Information Centre, scope will be provided for "Kings Castle" a collection of Elvis memorabilia exhibit valued at $1.5 million. This will compliment Parkes' international recognition as the "Home of Elvis in Australia", and reflect the importance of the $47 million tourism industry in the Parkes shire.

The Motor Museum building also has to be constructed - and all will be integrated as the Henry Parkes Centre.

Total cost of expenditure to the present stage as been $1.8 million - while the next and final stage will cost an estimated $1.4 million.

Over the past few years Council has completed the first stage of the centre including the main service building currently housing the historical museum and a replica of Moat cottage (where Sir Henry Parkes was born and raised)' at Canley on the outskirts of the English City of Coventry - the genesis of the strikingly successful Coventry/Parkes Sister City relationship.

A master plan of the whole site has now been developed, and an application made under the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program.

The proposed construction program for the Henry Parkes Centre is:

• Tenders - April 2009
• Construction of the museum buildings - May to December 2009
• Relocation of existing museum to new building - October 2009
• Alterations to convert existing museum to visitor information centre - November, December 2009.
• Construction of external works - July to November.
• Fit-out Moat Cottage - Henry Parkes exhibition - June to October
• Fit-out Elvis exhibition - September to December 2009

In summary the $3.2 million Henry Parkes Centre will deliver for the Parkes community, the region and indeed the nation a multi faceted, interactive historical, educational and tourism resource that will focus squarely on the achievements of Sir Henry and the integral role he played in securing Australia's Federation.

Specifically, Moat Cottage will offer visitors an understanding and appreciation of its story of Federation - its importance and its personalities.

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