Have you ever wondered why so many places on the Sunshine Coast bear the name Parkyn?
It is because five generations of the Parkyn family have helped create the enviable lifestyle that Sunshine Coast residents enjoy today.
If you would like to find out more about this amazing family, whose roots date back to 1878, Nick Parkyn will be the guest speaker at The Tewantin Noosa Probus Club’s next meeting on Tuesday 26 August. We meet at the Tewantin Noosa RSL at 10am for morning tea. Nick’s presentation will begin at 10.30am.
“My talk will cover the early days of the Gympie Gold Rush which helped grow the region and the Parkyn name. It is a personal and historical narrative of resilience, enterprise and local legacy,“ Nick said.
“The Parkyn History starts with Richard Bray Parkyn, a 22 year old Cornish tin miner, who came to Tewantin by paddle steamer in 1878, then, travelled by coach to the Gympie Goldfields. He eventually managed the gold mine, now the site of the Gympie Gold Museum.
“I also want to highlight the remarkable achievements of Arthur Parkyn, a Mooloolaba Surf Life Saving Club champion whose legacy lives on, in landmarks such as Parkyn Parade. I also want to share anecdotes about Jack and Daisy Parkyn highlighting their contributions to the Tewantin and Munna Point communities.
“My multigenerational tale will also cover generations of hortculture in the Kandanga region and tourism on the coast.
“Parkyn Hut was originally a miner’s hut in the Monkland Distric of Gympie. It was transported to Tewantin in the early 1920s. My family purchased the hut in 1938, renovated it and used it as a guest cottage.
“In 1999, my family sold the hut. It was donated by the RSL to the Tewantin Heritage and Historical Society and now serves as The Tewantin Visitor Information Centre.“
Nick and his brother, Will, recently completed and eight-day trek retracing places of family history and importance.
Visitors are very welcome, but please phone Christine on 5442 7397, so she can save you a seat.
