Faulconbridge, New South Wales

Faulconbridge Blue Mountains, New South Wales
Graves of Henry Parkes and his first wife, Clarinda, Faulconbridge Cemetery
Faulconbridge
Coordinates	33°41′S 150°32′E / 33.683°S 150.533°E / -33.683; 150.533Coordinates: 33°41′S 150°32′E / 33.683°S 150.533°E / -33.683; 150.533
Population	4,014 (2006 census)
Postcode(s)	2776
Elevation	450 m (1,476 ft)
Location	77 km (48 mi) from Sydney
LGA(s)	City of Blue Mountains
State electorate(s)	Blue Mountains
Federal Division(s)	Macquarie
Localities around Faulconbridge: Blue Mountains National Park Grose Valley Winmalee Blue Mountains National Park Faulconbridge Springwood Linden Blue Mountains National Park

Faulconbridge (33°41′S 150°32′E / 33.683°S 150.533°E / -33.683; 150.533) is a village located in the Blue Mountains 77 km west of Sydney, New South Wales and is 450 metres above sea level. At the 2006 census, Faulconbridge had a population of 4,014 people.

The area around Faulconbridge was first explored by Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson in May 1813 while they were camped at Springwood and looking for a route which would take them over the mountains. It was settled in the 1870s after the railway line had opened the mountains up.

One of the earliest residents was the "Father of Federation", Sir Henry Parkes, who moved to the area in 1877 and purchased 600 acres (2.4 km²). It is said that the original railway platform at Faulconbridge was specifically built to serve his residence, which was known as Faulconbridge House. The town was named after Parkes's home. Faulconbridge was the maiden name of Parkes's mother, while a small waterfall in the area — Clarinda Falls — was named after his first wife, Clarinda Varney (the Varney name was passed on to Parkes's son, Varney Parkes). Parkes is buried in Faulconbridge Cemetery, alongside the grave of his first wife, Varney Parkes and other family members. The railing surrounding his grave bears a plaque which describes his role in Australian history:

On Sir Henry's Parade (which runs between Springwood and Faulconbridge on the southern side of both the railway line and the highway) is Jackson Park, which is home to the Prime Ministers' Corridor of Oaks. Joseph Jackson, a NSW Member of Parliament, gave the park to the local council in 1933 with the explicit intention of having every Prime Minister of Australia, or a nearest surviving relative, plant an oak tree. Jackson was a huge admirer of Henry Parkes and believed that his Corridor of Oaks was a suitable monument to the man most responsible for the federation of Australian states. It is worth noting that every Prime Minister since Gough Whitlam has had their tree destroyed soon after planting, and the trees representing these Prime Ministers were re-planted later.