POW Camp

The Cowra Prisoner of War Camp site is listed as one of the top Heritage siges in NSW.  In 1944 over 1000 Japanese POW staged a mass breakout that was the biggest in British and Australian War History.  231 Japanese POW lost their lives and 4 Australians also died during the breakout.

Today a walking trail goes through the camp ruins and a scale model of the camp is on display at the Cowra Visitors Centre. Also at the Visitor Information Centre is the POW theatre which is a nine minute presentation telling the story of the breakout from the perspective of a local resident.

Elvis Festival – Parkes

The Parkes Elvis Festival is held every year in the second week in January, coinciding with Elvis Presley’s birthday. The Festival continues to grow with hundreds of events, performances, workshops and displays across five fabulous, fun-filled days.

More information:  https://www.parkeselvisfestival.com.au/

Aviation Museum – Parkes

The Parkes Aviation Museum is located at the end of Muzycuk Drive at Parkes Airport. It is currently housed in a former RAAF hangar from the airport’s time as a World War Two air force base.Parkes has a long history in aviation, the first aircraft to land at Parkes was a Sopwith Camel piloted by aviation pioneer Sydney Pickles in 1919.

During WW2, Parkes airport became RAAF Base Parkes, accommodating No.1 Air Navigation School, No.2 Wireless Air Gunners School, No.8 Operational Training Unit and after the war No.87 SQN operated from Parkes. Did you know – former PM Gough Whitlam graduated from Parkes as a Flying Officer navigator?

Parkes Aero Club, formed in 1948, still operates from its historic ex-RAAF COMMCEN building.

Parkes has been used as a storage facility for the Historic Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) since 1975 and is currently being transformed into an aviation museum in its own right by a range of local and HARS volunteers.  Information provided by:  https://hars.org.au/

Peace Precinct, Cowra

Cowra is home to Australia’s World Peace Bell; the Peace Precinct (which includes the Japanese Garden); the Festival of International Understanding; and the Avenue of Trees sponsored by Japanese citizens and families and is the centre of world friendship.

Cowra annually commemorates the Breakout which occurred in the early hours of August 5, 1944.

Peace Bell, Cowra

Usually erected in a nation’s capital city, The Australian World Peace Bell was awarded to Cowra in 1992 for its long standing contribution to world peace and international understanding. Capital cities usually reserve the right to erect the World Peace Bell, however Cowra’s commitment to the World Peace Bell’s objectives has meant Cowra was awarded the honour. The Bell is made of coins provided by 103 member countries of the United Nations, which were melted down and cast into the Bell.

The Cowra Civic Square now proudly houses the Bell. The Pavilion is decorated with pottery tiles reflecting the community’s ideas about the World Peace Bell and its association with Cowra. An audio presentation explains the significance of the bell and its association with Cowra.

A ceremony is held on World Peace Day – 3rd Tuesday in September – to mark the opening of the Disarmament at the United Nations.

Please visit Cowra Tourism (https://www.cowratourism.com.au/australias-world-peace-bell/) or Screen Central (www.screencentral.com.au) for additional information.

Iandra Castle

Iandra Castle was owned by a Mr George Henry Greene who also pioneered the share-farming system in Australia. Mr Greene brought in trades and materials from overseas and built the village of Greenethorpe for his workers.

www.iandracastle.com.au

Ghost Tours & Spooky Stories – Grenfell, NSW

  • Grenfell’s historic building play the perfect backdrop for spooky stories and ghost tours. The first were held in Oct and were a huge success. If only the building’s walls could talk…

Star Gazing and Camping in Grenfell

Grenfell has the perfect mix of minimal light disturbance and wide open spaces that make it a wonderful place for star gazing.

www.visitweddin.com.au