Varney Parkes

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 worked as an architect at Liverpool and Canterbury, and in partnership with C.H.E. Blackmann (1880–1885). He was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1885 as the member for Central Cumberland. He left the Assembly in 1888 but was re-elected for East Sydney in 1891, switching to Canterbury in 1894. He served until 1900 and then a second term from 1907 to 1913 as a Liberal. In 1895 he was bankrupted, and not discharged until 1907.[1]

Parkes served as Postmaster-General from August 1898 to September 1899. He died in Sydney in 1935.[2]

• 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]
• Former Bank of New South Wales building, Broadway, Sydney, was designed by Parkes in the Federation Romanesque style and built in 1894. It is heritage-listed.[4]
• 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]

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  Former Bank of New South Wales, Broadway, Sydney
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  Former Bank of New South Wales, George Street, Sydney
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  Erskineville Public School, Sydney
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  Stanmore Public School, Sydney
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  St James's Church, King Street, Sydney
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  Hazeldean, Wahroonga
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  Parkes family graves in Faulconbridge Cemetery, Faulconbridge, New South Wales, with Varney's grave at far left