Historical information

Samuel Skelton Parker was a native of Ballymena in the County of Antrim, Ireland and came to Melbourne, Australia in 1854. He was engaged for two years as a storeman. After mining in the Ovens district for five years he next became overseer on a station in New South Wales. He was married to Bridget Cusack in 1865 and they had a family of 4 sons and a daughter.

After returning to Victoria Samuel Skelton Parker started a butchering business at Barnawartha and in 1881 he combined it with a bakery. This was the first business established in Barnawartha. Samuel had several properties in the township as well as his business premises and private residence.
His horse drawn butchers cart made a run to Wodonga three days a week supplying the wayside pubs and Railway Gate House owners. Bread was sold for five loaves for one shilling, meat was two pennies per pound.

In 1890 Skelton decided to give up butchering and baking and moved to Wodonga. He bought a 'Bush Block' of 150 acres on Fergusons Lane, now Parkers Road. Skelton called the property 'Park Hall' after his home in Ireland. On this new property Skelton raised sheep and he also sold chaff around the district.

When Skelton died on 14 October 1897 the farm was split up with two sons Sam and Jack continuing the running of the farm, whilst the other two sons William and James joined the Victorian railways.

Samuel and Jack continued to successfully manage the farm until 1974 when the Albury Wodonga Development Corporation acquired the land for the planned development of the region.

In 2026 this is the location of Park Hall Retirement Village and the Wodonga Golf Club are situated on Parkers Road.

Significance

This image is significant because it records one of the earliest businesses established in Barnawartha, Victoria.

Physical description

Two black and white images of Samuel Parker's business in Barnawartha, Northeast Victoria.