Parker, Son & Co.

The original business of Parker & Geertz was established in Brisbane Street in premises above the Qld National Bank, in December 1903.  Both Parker & Geertz had worked for Queensland Woollen Manufacturing Co for many years and were highly experienced in their field. 

The men were tailors, costumiers and shirt makers, making suits for men and tailor made dresses for women. They described themselves as practical tailors who produced fashionable and well-made clothing including:  wool suits, cloaks, mantles, and blue serge suits. 

In 1906 the business moved to larger premises in Richard Watson's Buildings in Brisbane Street. This was about two doors from the Post Office and opposite Cribb & Foote. Here they occupied 2 floors: fitting and cutting rooms on the ground floor and workroom upstairs. The firm planned to add a mercery department to their shop.

 After about 7 years the partnership of Parker & Geertz was dissolved. Theodore Geertz went on to open his own tailoring establishment.  James Crawford Grant joined the firm in late 1910.  He had worked for the company previously until 1907 when opening his own tailoring business in Nicholas Street, opposite the North Australian Hotel.

By January 1911 the business was known as Parker, Son & Co. with Parker in charge of cutting and Grant assuming control of manufacturing. Parker's son Thomas Henry Parker (Harry) had joined the firm.

Twice in their history the firm were victims of fabric theft. Suits and serge were stolen in 1909 and rolls of cloth taken in November 1926. 

Around 1929/1930 two things happened that were significant to the company: Thomas Parker, Senior died and, James Mansfield Grant (Jim), son of J. C. Grant, entered Parker, Son & Co. Harry became principal of the firm in the 1930s and sometime after this they moved to 36 Nicholas Street. Parker, Son & Co, endured in Ipswich until at least the mid-1950s, becoming a long-running and well known business. Eventually the business changed its name to Grant Parker Pty Ltd. This may have occurred after Harry's retirement or, following his death in the 1970s. In 1986 Jim Grant retired after 56 years.

By 1988, after 85 years in business, Grant Parker was being run by Lynette Appleton and Leanne McCoombes, both former apprentices to the company. They were the last remaining tailors in Ipswich. At this time, Grant Parker Menswear was located in East Street. The firm was still in existence in 1991. 

The Grants' family home was at 25 Warwick Road, Ipswich. 

Thomas Parker lived at Hereward, 4 Briggs Road, Eastern Heights, Ipswich.