A short drive north of Parkes, NSW is the CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope, made famous by the Australian movie 'The Dish' in 2000. The historical comedy-drama tells the story of The CSIRO Parkes Observatory’s role in relaying live TV images of the Apollo 11 Moon landing in 1969. With a 64-metre diameter made of steel, The Dish balances on a three-storey concrete tower and is an impressive sight.
The Dish made history by beaming images of Neil Armstrong taking his famous steps on the moon. It’s one of the largest single-dish telescopes in the Southern Hemisphere and is still in operation as a world-leading instrument. The Observatory’s Visitor Discovery Centre welcomes visitors to wander through astronomy and space science exhibitions, enjoy 3D theatre shows and learn the role The Dish plays in 'listening to the stars.'
Up until 2020, The Dish at Parkes was simply called Parkes. The name ‘Murriyang’ was given to the telescope by local Wiradjuri elders in 2020 during NAIDOC Week, a yearly celebration of Indigenous peoples. The name Murriyang means the ‘Skyworld’ in Wiradjuri Dreaming. Murriyang honours the astronomical knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by connecting the oldest scientific tradition in the world, astronomy, with its oldest continuous civilisation.
The Dish is still a popular name for this iconic landmark that transmitted video footage to 600 million people around the world in 1969. It’s one of the telescopes comprising CSIRO’s Australia Telescope National Facility (ATNF) and has been operating since 1961. The Dish/Murriyang operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year and continues to be at the forefront of astronomical discovery. Astronomers from around Australia and the world use the telescope to undertake world-class astronomical science.
The Parkes Elvis Festival is an annual 5-day festival full of fun events and fabulous music, attracting people from across the country. It all started with an idea in 1993 and has grown into an annual pilgrimage for Elvis fans who come to pay homage to ‘The King.’
The event honours the life and songs of Elvis Presley. Parkes takes a step back in time to the 50s and 60s with performances, a street parade, themed events and plenty of opportunity to dress up rock ‘n’ roll style!
Recognised as one of the top three festivals and events in Australia, the Parkes Elvis Festival is a nostalgic, fun-filled experience. The festival is held every January to coincide with Elvis Presley’s birthday.
There are classic car displays, dance events, the crowning of Miss Priscilla, the Elvis Gospel Service and the Ultimate Elvis Tribute show featuring a sensational International Elvis Tribute Artist.
The Dish is five kilometres off the Newell Highway, just 20 kilometres north of Parkes. It stands majestically in the middle of farmlands.
The town of Parkes was named after Sir Henry Parkes, a statesman known as the ‘Father of Federation’ as he played a key role in the federation of Australia's six colonies in 1901.
The town was originally called Currajong due to the number of kurrajong trees in the area. The kurrajong is a medium-sized, evergreen native to Australia, also known as the bottle tree.
The Parkes Observatory Visitor Discovery Centre is open to the public and welcomes visitors to come and explore its many displays and hands-on exhibits. A 3D theatre runs every half hour, and The Dish Shop features a range of astronomy and space products and souvenirs.
Parkes has a parabolic dish antenna, 64 metres in diameter with a collecting area of 3,216 m2. The Dish is made up of aluminium panels supported by a latticework of supporting struts.
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