© Copyright Mike Fernandes 2013
Sir Henry Parkes - 1815-1896 ’The Father of Federation'
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Born in England on 27th May 1815
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Arrived in Australia in 1839
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Elected to New South Wales Parliament in 1854
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Premier of New South Wales 5 times
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In 1889, he made a famous speech (Tenterfield address) in which he called for
a convention of leading men to meet to discuss how a national government
could be formed for Australia
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Presided over first Federal Convention in 1891
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Established political directions for the new country
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Poet and writer
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Died 27th April 1896, four years before his dream of a federated Australia
came true
Henry Parkes believed that “the time (for Federation) had come, and if two Governments
(New South Wales and Queensland) set an example, the others must soon of necessity follow,
and they would have an uprising in this fair land of a goodly fabric of free Government,
and all great national questions of magnitude affecting the welfare of the colonies would
be disposed of bya fully authorised constitutional authority, which would be the only one
which could give satis-faction to the people represented. This meant a distinct executive
and a distinct parliamentary power, a government for the whole of Australia, and it meant a
parliament of two houses, a house of commons and a senate, which would legislate on
these great subjects.
The Government and Parliament of New South Wales would be just as effective as now
in all local matters, and so would the Parliament of Queensland. All great questions would
be dealt with in a broad manner, just as Congress dealt with the national affairs of the
United States, and as the Parliament of the Dominion of Canada dealt with similar questions.”
Sir Henry Parkes’ lived in this home in Annandale until his death in 1896.
“Kenilworth”, one of the two “Witches Houses” was built by John Young, Mayor of Sydney in
1886. The property, now classified by the National Trust is among a number of fine examples
of architecture of the era.
Sir Henry Parkes’ lived in this home in Annandale until his death in 1896.
“Kenilworth”, one of the two “Witches Houses” was built by John Young, Mayor of Sydney in
1886. The property, now classified by the National Trust is among a number of fine examples
of architecture of the era.
In 1891 Alfred Deaken
wrote; 'His huge figure,
slow step, deliberate
glance and carefully
brushed-out aureole of
white hair combined to
present the spectator
with a picturesque
whole which was not
detracted from on
closer acquaintance.
Movements, gestures,
inflexions, attitudes
harmonised, not simply
because they were
intentionally adopted,
but because there was
in him the substance of
the man he dressed
himself to apear'.
