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| STABLES ON BAPTIST CHURCH SITE, WELLINGTON STREET |
In the late 1850s Henry Davy Parr took
over the Royal Hotel at 22 Wellington Street (currently the Baptist Church Offices – see
last week's post).
He is reputed to have spent some two thousand
pounds developing the site, building stables in 1857, and making
other improvements, and the establishment became known as “Parr's
Family Hotel”.
Henry Davey Parr was a remarkable man.
His obituary, published in The
Examiner on 01 February 1878, is
well worth reading. It omits to mention Parr's passage to
Tasmania (compliments of the British government – he arrived as a
convict in 1833). Apart from “publican” Parr was variously a
farmer (at Westbury), veterinarian, horsebreeder and trainer, owner
of the Mowbray racetrack, and proponent of a (sadly) ineffective
cure for cancer!! He seems to have been well-respected and liked,
renowned for his “smiling countenance.” Prior to the Royal, Parr
was licensee of the Australian and Tasmanian Hotel, the Queen's Head
Hotel (also in Wellingon Street), and afterwards, the Post Office
Hotel, and Temperance Hotels in Paterson street.
Parr's hotels were not favoured by
dedicated drinkers and were thus known as a comfortable and safe
place to stay. This was particularly notable at a time when many of
the residents of Wellington Street were said to be too scared to
venture out after dark!
Parr continued to operate the hotel until the 1870s when it was
purchased by Henry Reed who was keen to establish an evangelical
mission to the people of Launceston. More next time........
Wonderful addition to the Blog. My Great Great Grandfather was Henry Davey (also spelled Davy) Parr. My father has completed significant research on Parr and my book about Parr will be published in 2017 - from across the pond (near Seattle, USA).
ReplyDeleteLovely to hear from you David...I'll look forward to reading your book. My lot were involved with Launceston's early pubs too!
ReplyDeleteHas it been established that Henry Parr arrived as a convict in 1833?
ReplyDeleteThere were two men, both English, by that name transported:
Henry Parr per Georgina 2, arrived 1833. Age 21
Henry Parr per Duncan, arrived 1841. Age 28 or 29
Either man fits the timeline with Henry Davey Parr's death at Launceston on 30 Jan 1878. Is it known which part of England H.D. Parr was from?
Henry Parr per Duncan could Read and Write. Literacy of Henry Parr per Georgina 2 unknown.
J. Shepherd
According to https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/georgiana/1832 Henry was indeed on this ship. Further details including a description of this man (who was a "rough carpenter" are available from the Tas Archives site. The convict conduct records refer to him as simply "Henry Davey" as do the appropriation, description and muster records.
ReplyDeleteThe Henry who arrived on the Duncan was tried for breaking and entering in Hobart in 1857, which makes it a bit more unlikely that he is our man. Henry Davey Parr was living in Westbury in 1851.
There is a record of a "Henry David (sic) Parr who arrived in the colony on the Georgiana going to Melbourne in 1852.
According to Archives records Henry Davey Parr was 66 when he died which is consistent with the age of the Georgiana man, although as you point out the other Henry would also fit.
On balance I think Henry is most likely the Georgiana man. Hopefully David's dad's book will help you out with more info.
Cheers