From Australia’s Jewish past
Moritz Gotthelf – Prominent Commercial Businessman and Community Stalwart
Moritz was born at Burgdorf, Hanover Germany in 1840 and at twenty years of age arrived in Melbourne in 1860. He subsequently moved to Sydney where he joined the company of Isaac Jacobs and Company, a well-known merchant company selling fancy goods in Hunter Street. Moritz later became associated with Mr Feldheim, and they established Feldheim, Gotthelf & Co, importers of hardware and general merchandise. There are no records or information about Moritz’s partner Mr Feldheim. This business was well-known and most successful with Moritz remaining associated with it for almost seventy years. On 3 October 1890, a devasting fire that began in a large printing establishment gutted the premises, plus several other large warehouses and businesses in the city. It was reported that the flames spread with alarming rapidity and the Feldheim Gotthelf and Co’s large warehouse was soon a seething mass of flames. As a result of this fire, Martin Place was established. Undeterred by the disastrous incident that had suddenly fallen upon them, they then occupied the site of 97 York Street closest to the Barrack and Clarence Streets. This section of Sydney was already known as a thoroughfare for the magnificent array of palatial structures owned by the merchant princes of Sydney. The new store, quite like a department store, had many floors of beautiful decorative antiquities, and the needs of every household. By 1897 the company had registered their mark as silversmiths at Goldsmiths Hall in London.
One of the components of the company was the production of trophies. The following was an article in The Sydney Morning Herald in 1895. At the Head of the River Regatta, the inaugural trophy in honour of Major Z C Rennie was awarded and won by the Sydney Church of England Grammar School. This trophy was manufactured in Europe by Messrs Feldheim, Gotthelf and Company. It was made of sterling silver and approximately 18 inches high on a wooden-pedestal with a youth in rowing costumed, holding in his right hand an oar. This trophy was on view at the establishment of Paling and Company in George Street.
Moritz was known as a leading commercial man of his time, with sterling business qualities which assured him of a successful future. His philanthropy was not limited to any organisation, business, or person. On 29 December 2011, an illuminated address presented to Moritz by the employees of the company was a leather-bound illustrated address by John Sands Sydney, the inscription read as follows:- ‘’The Employees of Messrs. Feldheim, Gotthelf, Ltd. desire on the eve of your departure from Sydney to express their appreciation of your many acts of generosity and kindness, and beg your acceptance of this slight token of acknowledgment of your sterling qualities, sympathetic and genial manner, and tactful administration, which command the admiration and esteem of all whom you have been brought in contact with, both in your business career and private life. While your departure will be keenly felt and regretted by us, we trust that you and yours will have an enjoyable and beneficial sojourn abroad, and will be blessed with long life, health, and prosperity.
We are, Dear Sir, Yours faithfully,’’
Once retired from active business pursuits, having been a person of keen, sympathetic nature, he devoted much of his time to charity and welfare movements. He was prominently known and involved with many Jewish organisations. Other organisations he was associated with included the Carrington Convalescent Hospital – which was the first major convalescent hospital in Camden, the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (in the company of five knighted individuals (of which one was the Chancellor of the University of Sydney), another two were doctors with one being a Senator) and the United Charities Fund, the NSW Patriotic Fund, as well as the Sydney Chamber of Commerce where he held the office of treasurer for some years, and a member of the executive council of the NSW Public Disaster Fund. He assisted with the foundation of many Jewish philanthropic and educational activities, and it was difficult for him to refrain from a historical account of Jewry in Sydney while making even a brief record of his activities. He always found a way to do a great deal dictated by his religious ideals, so much so, that he was a president, vice-president, and treasurer of the Great Synagogue and was elected a life member of the Board of Management. It was in fact during his time as president of the Great Synagogue, that he worked to ensure the interest of young men in the community, by a scheme to encourage them to feel the pride of membership in it. He was also involved with the Sir Moses Montefiore Home and regularly attended the executive meetings.
Moritz was certainly an amazing citizen, businessman, and community stalwart. The Australian Jewish Standard reported that “he was held in high esteem in which this pillar of Australian Jewry was held in itself a monumental testimony to the fact that a good Jew gains the esteems of all people for his consistency and the exemplification of Jewish views.” Moritz passed away in his home, the very grand Elizabeth Bay House on 9 July 1926. He and his wife Sarah and four daughters had lived in the house for some years. He was survived by his daughters. His funeral was attended by many, Jewish and non-Jewish people, all of whom had been a part of his very full and rewarding life.
The AJHS acknowledges the following references in the preparation of this story:
Australian Postal History; Hebrew Standard of Australasia (Sydney); National Trust of Australia – Elizabeth Bay House; AJHS; National Library of Australia – Trove; Sydney Morning Herald, State Library of NSW
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