Philip Levi

Philip Levi (1 Feb 1822 – 13 May 1898) was an early settler and pastoralist of South Australia.

Born at Brixton Hill, Surrey, England,^[1] at the age of sixteen, Levi arrived in South Australia, aboard the Eden in 1838 with his parents Nathaniel Philip Levi and Sarah Levi (née Goldsmid), and their five other children. He was involved in pastoral and mercantile businesses in the north of South Australia and became a well known and influential businessman. His pastoral interests involved sheep and cattle in various partnerships, many of which in the period 1855–1870 involved Alfred Watts (1815–1884). His shipping interests included, with Jacob Smith, a share in the Port Adelaide tug Goolwa.^[2] He was in 1863 one of the founders and a trustee of the Adelaide Club, where a portrait of him still hangs today.^[3]

In 1853, Levi purchased Vale House,^[4] located near the River Torrens, east of Adelaide (now in the suburb of Vale Park). Over the next 96 years, it became one of the centres of social activity of Adelaide society.^[4]

In 1870 Levi's Company disposed of many of its properties including Moolooloo and Wirrealpa, Oulnina and Wadnaminga, Mount Margaret and Booleroo Station. Together these properties were stocked with over 70,000 sheep and 3,000 cattle.^[5]

He died at Vale House and was buried in the Jewish section of the West Terrace Cemetery, where his father was the first to be interred. His estate passed on to other members of his family, and in 1948, his niece left Vale House to the Town of Walkerville.^[1][4] He is remembered by Levi Caravan Park, which bears his name.

Family

Philip Levi (1822–1898) married Elizabeth Symes (c. 1822 – 24 November 1882) in 1842.^[6] Their eleven children included:

• James Frederick Levi (c. 1846 – 24 October 1878). He died at Bridgewater after being thrown onto the Mount Barker Road in a vehicle accident when his horse stumbled.
• Charles Levi (c. 1849 – 18 April 1900) worked at Port Essington and Melville Island in the Northern Territory, died at Port Lincoln.^[7]
• Andrew Philip Levi (c. 1851 – 9 November 1927) of Port Adelaide
• Adelaide Philippi Levi (1855 – 23 July 1930) married James William Field
• George Nathaniel Levi (c. 1862 – 19 September 1894) worked for J & A. G. Johnston, of Oakbank

Edmund Levi (6 December – 29 September 1895) was a brother and business partner.^[8]

References

1. "The Manning Index of South Australian History".
2. "Death of Captain J. W. Smith". South Australian Register (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 22 December 1891. p. 7. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
3. "Adelaide Jewish Museum". Retrieved 6 January 2015.
4. "Adelaide's Levi Caravan Park – Vale House".
5. "Advertising.". The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 8 August 1870. p. 4. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
6. "The Late Mr. Philip Levi". The Advertiser (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 25 May 1898. p. 3. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
7. "Concerning People". South Australian Register (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 24 April 1900. p. 5. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
8. "No title.". South Australian Register (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 1 August 1895. p. 5. Retrieved 1 June 2015.