Samuel Hordern

Fountain at corner of Pyrmont Street and Pyrmont Bridge Road, Pyrmont

Sir Samuel Hordern KBE (24 September 1876–3 June 1956) was an Australian businessman. Educated at Sydney Grammar School and Bath College, England he directed the Hordern family company Anthony Hordern & Sons for more than fifty years.

History

Samuel Hordern directed the company that employed more than 4000 people in its store and mail-order business, imported, manufactured and sold a vast range of merchandise from 1909 until its sale to public investors in 1926. He was a keen cattle, dog and horse breeder, and owner of racehorses, including the 1919 Melbourne Cup winner 'Artilleryman'.

Hordern was president of the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales (1915-1941) and developed the Sydney Royal Easter Show into a world class event. Prominent in the Chamber of Commerce and many other business associations, he was also a director of the Commonwealth Bank.

The Hordern Pavilion at the Sydney Showgrounds was built in 1924 to commemorate the Hordern family business.

Samuel Hordern was knighted twice; once as a Knight Bachelor, and again as a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

Today the Hordern business empire is being carried by Samuel B. Hordern IV who lives in Bellevue Hill, Sydney.

References

• Hordern, Sir Samuel (1876 - 1956) in the Australian Dictionary of Biography