Bushmans
When gold was again discovered in the early
1870's the population of the town, now known as Bushmans grew to
around 6000 people.
By the time Currajong became Bushmans many
free settlers had come to the area to set up farming operations.
Under the Robertsons Act of 1861, free settlers were able to buy land
for one pound an acre, provided the owner lived on the property and
made improvements like fencing. These free settlers became the
backbone of agricultue in the area.
In 1873 Henry Parkes, later Sir Henry
Parkes (the 'Father of Federation'), visited Bushmans and promised
the town a railway. In his honour Bushmans was officially renamed
Parkes on December 1st 1873.
Sir Henry Parkes