Prime Ministers' Corridor of Oaks
Encyclopedia
The Prime Ministers' Corridor of Oaks is located at Faulconbridge, New South Wales
, 75 km from Sydney
and 20 minutes from Katoomba
. It is near the Great Western Highway
and Main Western railway line
. It is also near the grave of Sir Henry Parkes
. A corridor of oak trees has been planted at this place by each Prime Minister of Australia
since federation
or a close family member.
Joseph Jackson
(1874–1961) MLA
represented the state Electoral district of Nepean
for 33 years. He donated the land on which Jackson Park sits to the people of the Blue Mountains in 1933 for use as a public park. At that time Jackson owned the former home of Sir Henry Parkes and was an ardent admirer of his. He conceived the idea of an avenue of oak trees to be planted by all the Prime Ministers of Australia or their nearest surviving relative. He hoped that the avenue, growing opposite the Parkes home, would become a national memorial. Planting commenced in 1934. When he stepped down from the Prime Minister position in June 2010, Kevin Rudd
had yet to plant his tree.
There are currently 25 oaks in the Corridor of Oaks. The park contains not only oaks but statues and park benches and is a common stop for a picnic.
Faulconbridge, New South Wales
Faulconbridge 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.-History and Description:...
, 75 km from Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and 20 minutes from Katoomba
Katoomba, New South Wales
Katoomba is the chief town of the City of Blue Mountains in New South Wales, Australia and the administrative headquarters of Blue Mountains City Council. It is on the Great Western Highway 110 kilometres west of Sydney and 39 kilometres south-east of Lithgow. Katoomba railway station is on the...
. It is near the Great Western Highway
Great Western Highway
The Great Western Highway is a highway in New South Wales, Australia. It runs 210 km from Sydney to Bathurst.Starting as Broadway at the intersection of City Road near the fringe of the Sydney CBD, and becoming Parramatta Road to Parramatta itself, the Great Western Highway heads due west from...
and Main Western railway line
Main Western railway line, New South Wales
The Main Western Railway is a major railway in New South Wales, Australia. It runs through the Blue Mountains, Central West, North West Slopes and the Far West regions.- Description of route :...
. It is also near the grave of Sir Henry Parkes
Henry Parkes
Sir Henry Parkes, GCMG was an Australian statesman, the "Father of Federation." As the earliest advocate of a Federal Council of the colonies of Australia, a precursor to the Federation of Australia, he was the most prominent of the Australian Founding Fathers.Parkes was described during his...
. A corridor of oak trees has been planted at this place by each Prime Minister of Australia
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
since federation
Federation
A federation , also known as a federal state, is a type of sovereign state characterized by a union of partially self-governing states or regions united by a central government...
or a close family member.
Joseph Jackson
Joseph Jackson (Australian politician)
Joseph Jackson was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1922 until 1956...
(1874–1961) MLA
Member of the Legislative Assembly
A Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
represented the state Electoral district of Nepean
Electoral district of Nepean (New South Wales)
Nepean was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created in 1859, and named after the Nepean River. It was abolished in 1904 with the downsizing of the Assembly after Federation. Nepean was recreated in 1927 and abolished again in...
for 33 years. He donated the land on which Jackson Park sits to the people of the Blue Mountains in 1933 for use as a public park. At that time Jackson owned the former home of Sir Henry Parkes and was an ardent admirer of his. He conceived the idea of an avenue of oak trees to be planted by all the Prime Ministers of Australia or their nearest surviving relative. He hoped that the avenue, growing opposite the Parkes home, would become a national memorial. Planting commenced in 1934. When he stepped down from the Prime Minister position in June 2010, Kevin Rudd
Kevin Rudd
Kevin Michael Rudd is an Australian politician who was the 26th Prime Minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010. He has been Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2010...
had yet to plant his tree.
There are currently 25 oaks in the Corridor of Oaks. The park contains not only oaks but statues and park benches and is a common stop for a picnic.