Victor Smorgon dies, aged 96

E-mail Print
Victor Smorgon, patriarch of Australia's richest family, died this morning aged 96.

Smorgon was the chairman of Victor Smorgon Group, which had a diverse range of investments including pallet manufacturer Vicfarm Plastics, clothing company General Pants and Smorgon Fuels.

Last week, Victor Smorgon Group-backed investment company Co-Investor led the recapitalisation of embattled digital marketing firm CommQuest.

The Smorgon family was valued at $2.2 billion in this year's BRW Rich 200.

A statement from Victor Smorgon's family said they "are all deeply saddened by his passing away peacefully in the early hours of this morning".

"Victor was always been highly grateful to Australia for the opportunities this country afforded him and gave generously to hospitals, schools and the arts, particularly in Victoria.

"A great Australian industrialist and a true family man, Victor is profoundly missed by his large family and we are all grateful for the kind words that have been conveyed to us today."

Smorgon arrived in Australia in 1927 from the Ukraine with his father Norman
Smorgon and Norman's two brothers, Moses and Abraham. The trio established a kosher butcher shop in the Melbourne suburb of Carlton, which would later grow into an empire known as Smorgon Consolidated Industries, covering meat exporting, plastics, glass, steel, paper, forestry and property.

The dismantling of this Smorgon Consolidated Industries empire began in 1995 as the company sold of various business divisions and distributed the proceeds amongst the family's seven branches.

The last part of the empire, Smorgon Steel, was sold to OneSteel in 2007.

Victor Smorgon Group remained one of the most visible wings of the Smorgon family, thanks to its diverse interests.

Read more on:


Write comment
You must be logged in to post a comment. Please register if you do not have an account yet.

busy
 
Expert advice from business women

FREE DOWNLOAD - Expert advice from business women

43 tips from successful business women on how to get to the very top of the business world, the barriers that hold women back and what they can learn from successful men on climbing the career ladder. Essential, practical reading for any ambitious business woman.

Register for the SmartCompany Newsletter and immediately receive 'Expert advice from business women'.

Free Daily Newsletter
SmartCompany Newsletter
Follow us:

WebfirmFree website healthcheck

Register to receive a free website healthcheck and eBook

Our Partners

 
Smartco

DIRECT LINKS

TOPICS

OUR PARTNERS

NETWORK PARTNERS

Popular on Partner sites: 2010 Federal Election | Book Reviews | Film Reviews | TV Show Reviews | Officeworks | business for sale | Fair Work Australia | 2010 public holidays

SmartCompany.com.au is Australia's leading website for SMEs featuring business news, business information and business blogs. SmartCompany's archive of news, feature articles, entrepreneur interviews and business webinars cover topics such as advertising and marketing, buying or selling a business, starting a business, growing a business, franchising, SEO, superannuation and tax.
Online Solution by Valegro

Download SmartCompany eBooks: Expert advice from business women | 101 tips for your business in 2010 | 25 tips to boost your sales | Finding, winning and keeping customers | 21 marketing tips | Business Plan | 25 tips from real entrepreneurs | 21 exporting tips | 10 tips for managing Gen Y