Varney Parkes (4 June 1859 – 14 May 1935) was an Australian politician, architect and son of
Henry Parkes.
Life and career
Parkes was born in the Sydney suburb of
Ryde, the seventh child of
Henry Parkes and Clarinda Varney. He attended public schools and then
The King's School in
Parramatta before working at the
Bank of New South Wales and the Colonial Architect's Office. On 21 March 1883 he married Mary Cameron Murray, but she died only five months later. On 24 December 1884, Parkes married Mary's older sister Isabella, with whom he had three surviving children.
Parkes served as
Postmaster-General from August 1898 to September 1899. He died in Sydney in 1935.[2]
Examples of architectural work
Erskineville Public School, Sydney, was designed by Parkes in partnership with C. Blackmann. It is in the
Italianate style and was built in 1883. It is heritage-listed.[3]
St James's Church, King Street, Sydney, was designed by
Francis Greenway but has been extensively modified over the years. Parkes redesigned and reclad the spire in 1894. He was also responsible for the tower doorway. The church is heritage-listed.[5]
Former Bank of New South Wales building, cnr Bathurst and George Streets, Sydney, is a three-storey building of red brick, with sandstone detailing. Now part of the significant Town Hall Group, it was designed by Parkes and built in 1894. It is heritage-listed.[6]
Marble Bar, Hilton Hotel, Sydney, is an elaborate Victorian room designed by Parkes and built in 1893. It was originally part of Adam's Hotel, which was demolished in 1969. The bar was incorporated into the Hilton Hotel and reopened in 1973. It is heritage-listed.[7]
Stanmore Public School, Sydney, was designed in partnership with C.Blackmann and built in 1884. It was extended in 1885 for a new girls' wing. In 1914, a local residence, Mona Villa, was acquired by the school to provide more space. The school is heritage-listed.[8]
Hazeldean, Queen Anne style 35-room, country guest house, Burns Road, Wahroonga, Sydney. Built for George Boyne in 1898 and extended 1903. Elaborate formal rooms with ornate ceilings; archways; multiple marble fireplaces. Heritage-listed.[9]
Eastwood Town Hall, 74 Agincourt Road,
Marsfield. Built in 1911–12; destroyed by fire 1937, rebuilt by Louis P. Burns in 1938. Heritage-listed.[10][11]
Gallery
Former Bank of New South Wales, Broadway, Sydney
Former Bank of New South Wales, George Street, Sydney
^"Eastwood Town Hall". NSW State Heritage Inventory. Heritage NSW. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
^"EASTWOOD'S TOWN-HALL". The Daily Telegraph. New South Wales, Australia. 26 February 1912. p. 8. Retrieved 25 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
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