01/12/2025
Parer's St Kilda Kiosk or Refreshment Rooms, later Kerby's, as surveyed by Graeme Butler in the 1980s as part of a State wide assessment of 20th century architecture.
This structure has been the subject of much conjecture and debate, particularly after recent fire damage. The important name Parer however seems to have been forgotten even in the VHR citation for the kiosk. Last seen it was empty.
(see https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/1117)
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Francis Parer was a Catalan immigrant who, along with his brother Joseph, built a successful business empire in Melbourne in the late 19th century, owning numerous hotels and restaurants, and are believed to be among the first to commercialize the meat pie in Australia. He is also credited with being one of the first people to grow tomatoes commercially in Australia at his property in Box Hill.
Early business ventures: Arriving in Melbourne in the mid-1850s, the brothers first tried a poultry farm near Sydney, which failed. They then moved to the Bendigo goldfields and eventually settled in Melbourne.
Meat pie business:
After meeting a French chef who showed them how to make meat pies, the Parer brothers began selling them to gold miners, which quickly became a popular and profitable business.
Hospitality and land ownership:
Their success in the food and hospitality industries grew to include owning over 30 pubs and restaurants, such as Melbourne's first Spanish restaurant and the grand Parer's Crystal Café and Hotel. They also bought a large property in Box Hill, where Francis grew produce for their businesses, including tomatoes, which he is believed to have been one of the first to grow commercially in the country.
Later life:
Francis Parer operated a café at the end of the St Kilda Pier for a time and passed away in 1935 at the age of 75
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1904 THE PIER.
The Kiosk on the St. Kilda Pier is now in course of er****on and when finished will be an imposing and useful adjunct to the attractions of the resort. The plan of the building was drawn by government architects and is being put into effect by Mr J. Douglas, builder, of Block-place, City, for Mr Francis Parer. The situation of tbe kiosk is just in the corner of the first L of the pier where some 60 piles have been driven into the water on which to erect the decking covering a space of 66 feet by 48 feet. On top of this the superstructure is being bolted having also corner angle plates of 2 inch by | inch iron. Around the edge of the decking has been erected a very handsome jarrah picket fence 8 feet 3 inches high with jarrah rounded capping. The style of architecture is oriental with a large circular sweep of window on every side to be glazed with the best Muranese glass. There is a concert room about 26 feet square, which will contain comfortable lounges, and all appurtenances for musical enjoyment. A neat shop will form the angle corner nearest the pier behind which will be the kitchen. On the flat roof will be erected an observatory 19 feet by 9 feet glazed on all sides from which will be seen a magnificent sea view as well aa a wonderful panorama of the metro, polis. Then on the top of the observatory will be another outlook safely fenced in. The design is being carried out in the best plain and fancy weather boards with embellishments of fancy scalloped scrolls and wood work. The necessity for great strength has not been lost sight of as may be exemplified by the fact that 4x4 best Oregon struts and 3x4 inter mediates are being used while the joists are 3 x 4 by 9 inches. Inside the concert room the roof promenade will be shored up with iron pillars. Around the whole of the building has been left a wide promenade where tete-a-tete tables will In placed for refreshments. Seats and lounges are to be plentifully provided. Mr Parer's intention is tc provide only fish and fruit luncheon without any intoxicating liquors of any sort. It is expected that the kiosk will be partly opened on Caulfield Cup Day, October 15, as the work is well in hand, and the whole is to be finished by the end of the month.
see https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/144607303
