Historical information
Members of the Parer family began arriving in Australia from 1852. By the 1890s several had settled in Surrey Hills and Box Hill.
Identification is as follows:
Back L to R: Phillip ( ), Stephen, Joseph, Francis.
Front L to R: John, Tici, Eulalia, Tia.
Phillip lived at 'Monserrat' in Mont Albert Road (land later subdivided so that house was renumbered as a Weybridge Street address.
Stephen was was the youngest child of Antonio and Josefa Parer. He left for Australia when he was 17 years old and landed in Melbourne in 1888 and went straight to work at Parers’ Crystal Palace for his brother Francis. Stephen preferred the outdoors and went to work on the family market garden in Box Hill.
Joseph was the first Parer to arrive in Australia, in 1855. He and his brother Francis created the Parer dynasty in Australia, bringing all the family members from Spain and offering them work in their hotels.
Francis Parer was born in Alella in 1836 and left for Australia when he was 17. In partnership, he commenced a business of general produce dealers in Little Bourke Street. He later entered the hospitality business buying in partnership the ‘Spanish Restaurant’ on Elisabeth Street and later, the Victoria Restaurant on Bourke Street with his brothers. In 1870 he purchased 40 acres of land at Box Hill at £15 per acre. The property became a famous market garden where he grew all kinds of vegetables and orchards. It is believed the first tomatoes in Australia were grown there.
Juan or John lived in 'Gerona' in Weybridge Street.
Eulalia Parer married Marcus Clota at Alella on 9 September 1867 and came to Australia in 1876. They lived in Guildford and Union Roads.
Tia Marieta married and lived in Guildford Road.
There are many members of the family buried in Box Hill Cemetery.
Physical description
Black and white formal studio portrait of 8 members of the Parer family mounted on brown board. There are 4 men standing and one man and 3 women seated.
Inscriptions & markings
White paper label stuck to rear: "THE ORIGINAL PARER FAMILY WHO SETTLED IN AUSTRALIA - 1852. / Photograph with compliments of SANS family."
