From Australia’s Jewish Past: Moses Morris Moss – wine and liquor business identity and model citizen
Moses was born in 1819 in London and arrived in Australia in 1840, setting up home in Launceston, where he opened a business as a general merchant.
After several years in Tasmania, he returned to London, arriving back again in Australia in 1851 and this time settling in Sydney.
Moses again established himself as a general merchant and had an interest in many different commercial enterprises, including serving as director of the Australian Joint Stock Bank. He was also an active member of the Sydney Jewish community and was chief warden and treasurer of the city’s synagogue for many years.
His most well-known commercial enterprise was a wine and liquor business he established in 1858 in Wynyard Lane, where the company was registered as Moses Moss & Co.
The company’s star and best-selling product was the Dutch import Wolfe’s Aromatic Schnapps, and this was well advertised across Australia, with signage prominent on buildings, bridges and railway stations. One example of the advertisements was found in the Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser of 22 July 1880, where the product was referred to as a ‘Life Restoring Cordial’. It went on to say that the time-honoured Helvetian Tonic and restorative known as “Dew of the Alps” (Rosée des Alpes) has (been a health restorative) in Switzerland for more than 400 years. It is the natural remedy of the Swiss for debility, indigestion, and all nervous disorders. “There is vitality in any drop of it,” says an eminent physician. We congratulate Australia that this peerless preparation is now procurable in our market, having been introduced by Messrs. M Moss & Co. Needless to say, the company did not state the alcohol content of the tonic, and a diligent search of the literature did not reveal the name of the herbs in it. It was known, because of its medicinal properties, to give assurance to women that they could buy it without compromising their respectability.
Apart from his business Moses was involved in practically every Jewish organisation. He had many Christian friends and associated with them in their charity and philanthropic work. He was also a member of the Commission of Peace for twenty years. As a citizen, he was held in high esteem, and throughout his life, he showed a spirit of peace and a love of goodwill that was manifested in the acts which, unfortunately, didn’t always promote harmony amongst those he was associated with. He was a committee member of the Philanthropical Society for many years and served on the committees of the Randwick and Benevolent Asylums. It is known that whatever appeal was made, it was never refused, and he approached it with sincerity and a ready response.
At the age of sixty-four, Moses suffered an epileptic fit and shortly after passed away on 20 December 1883 at his residence at 185 Macquarie Street, Sydney.
Moses was survived by his wife Esther, six sons and five daughters. He was buried at Rookwood Cemetery, where a large number of prominent Jewish and Christian colleagues and friends attended the funeral. The Rev Alexander Davis delivered the eulogy, in which he referred to the religious aspiration of Moses, his death and the devotion shown to him during his illness by his relatives and friends, showing how well-liked and respected he was to all who knew him. He went on to say that Moses ‘’had willingly served for many years as the Chief Warden and Treasure of the Synagogue and would have served in any capacity in which the suffrages of its members would have placed him. He was a liberal contributor to its funds and would have served it day and night. Rev Davis went on to say that Moses was a disciple of Aaron and endeavoured, by his advice and earnest efforts, to cement and promote good feeling. He was a fast and faithful friend, an excellent citizen and kind master – to sum up all – a lover of mankind and what more can be said of anyone who lived and contributed as Moses had.
Following Moses’ death, Louis Phillips, who had married Moses’ daughter Clara, became the principal of the business. The company was later owned by Walter Cavel and Crawford & Co. Cavel’s holdings were purchased by Universal Groceries, which was bought out by G.J. Coles in the mid-1950s.
The AJHS acknowledges the following references in the preparation of this story:-
Australian Dictionary of Biography; Trove; City of Sydney Archives; Wise’s New South Wales Post Office Commercial Directory; State Library of NSW.
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