From the arrival of Peter Gras-y-Fort and through the connection of Esteban Parer, many Spaniards arrived in Victoria. They settled around Melbourne and integrated into the Australian society. Most of them worked in the hotel business, tomato markets, the fishing industry or cork importing. They got involved in sports events, politics and the public sphere. Little by little, their presence in Melbourne was significant, a footprint that is still visible nowadays.
Do you want to go for a walk along the streets of Melbourne and see what we find? Do you recognise any of these places? Melbourne has changed lots during the last century... Is there still any Catalan imprint in these places?
Take a camera and find out! Show us the Catalan Melbourne nowadays! Send your photos to info@catalanfootprintinaustralia.net. Show us the Catalan Melbourne now and then!
1 Rubira’s Cafe 305-307 Bourke Street, Melbourne 2 Albion Hotel 292 Bourke Street, Melbourne 3 Royal Mail Hotel Corner of Swanston Street and Bourke Street, Melbourne 4 Duke de la Victoria 212 Bourke Street, Melbourne 5 Parer’s Crystal Cafe and Hotel It was a common for Catalans arriving in Melbourne between 1860s-1920s to work in one of the Parer Family’s many hotels or restaurants 6 John Bull Tavern Little Collins Street, Melbourne 7 London Tavern Hotel 99 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne 8 Exchange Hotel 255 Little Collins Street, Melbourne 9 Hosies Hotel & Café 1 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne 10 Casal Catala de Victoria 247-251 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Established in 1986, the Casal Catala has been based at Ross House in Central Melbourne since 1988. 11 Keilor Market Gardens Mercedes Street, Barcelona Street and Girona Street Catalan families (Borrell, Senserrick, Vert and Quertero) ran market gardens in Keilor from the 1920s. 12 Canals Seafood 703 Nicholson Street, North Carlton Michael Canals moved his fish shopf rom Johnson Street to this site in Calton in 1931. His grandsons still operate the business. 13 Restaurant at the Royal Exhibition Building 9 Nicholson Street, Carlton 14 Barcelona Terrace 31 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy Built by the Parer Family in 1881 15 Former site of the Mercy Hospital for Women Clarendon Street, East Melbourne Dr Inez Parer (1896-1982), daughter of John Parer, helped establish the Mercy Hospital for Women. 16 Morell Bridge Crosses the Yarra River at Anderson Street Sir Stephen Morell, Lord Mayor of Melbourne 1926-1928 17 St Kilda Pier Pavilion Jacka Boulevarde, St Kilda Original pavilion built by Frances Parer (1860-1925) in 1904. The original pavilion was destroyed by fire in 2003 and rebuilt/restored in 2006. 18 Gras y Fort Family Home 142 Mont Albert Road, Canterbury 19 Parer Family Estate Around Clota Avenue, Box Hill This land was owned by the Parer Family and used as market gardens. The land was subdivided and sold for housing in 1923. |