Maurice Salom

Maurice Salom
Born	London, England
Died	10 October 1903(1903-10-10) (aged 72)
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, politician
Years active	1852–1903
Known for	Member of the South Australian Legislative Council; entrepreneur in auctioneering and trade; philanthropic and public service activities

Maurice Salom (1 July 1831 – 10 October 1903) was a prominent entrepreneur and political figure in the South Australian colony.

Biography

Born in London, Salom was the son of A. H. Salom, who belonged to a longstanding Sephardic Jewish mercantile family. He underwent a three-year apprenticeship with a London stockbroker before engaging in trade involving ivory, ostrich plumes, and animal hides along Africa’s coastline. In 1852, he emigrated to South Australia and became associated with the auction house Solomon and Co., eventually acquiring ownership before selling it to a group of investors in 1882.

In the same year, Salom secured election to the South Australian Legislative Council, finishing second out of fourteen contenders with 8,115 votes. He declined an invitation from Sir John Downer to assume the role of Chief Secretary. Between 1883 and 1884, he participated in a commission tasked with reviewing the Destitute Persons Act. In 1887, he introduced the First Offenders Act, which aimed to offer alternatives to imprisonment for those convicted for the first time. He chose not to stand for re-election afterward.

His commercial engagements encompassed:

• Serving on the local board of the Australian Mutual Provident Society

Salom was deeply involved in numerous public service and philanthropic activities:

• Active committee member and past Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce
• Council member of Education until its disbandment
• Headed the committee of North Adelaide Grammar School
• Led the Adelaide Hospital house committee; played a key role in enacting the Public Charities Act 1876 following discovery of misallocated donations. As inaugural Chairman of the Commissioners of Charitable Funds alongside William Wyatt and William Kay, he oversaw funds exceeding £26,000 with potential for an additional £100,000. These resources supported extensive hospital improvements including new facilities and laboratories. The commissioners also managed funds allocated to Destitute and Lunatic Asylums as well as Port Augusta Hospital.
• Presided over the Hebrew Philanthropic Society for four decades
• Served as an early President of the Synagogue but later withdrew from its administration
• Appointed Justice of the Peace with specialization in commercial and insurance law; arbitrated claims involving government and private parties concerning railway and waterworks land acquisitions
• Held directorship at the Commercial Bank of South Australia
• Engaged actively in Freemasonry, occupying several high-ranking positions

Following a brief illness, Salom passed away and was interred in the Jewish section at West Terrace Cemetery.

Family

On 27 August 1856, Salom wed Kate Solomon (19 June 1837 – 7 June 1928), daughter of Moss Solomon (c. 1796–1849). She was sister to Judah Moss Solomon MLA, MLC (1818–1880) and Elias Solomon (1839–1909), as well as niece to Emanuel Solomon MLC (1800–1873). The couple resided on Brougham Place in North Adelaide. Their offspring included:

• Robert Salom (c. 1855 – 16 July 1924), an AEI graduate who settled in New York around 1880.
• Rebecca Salom (2 June 1860 – 13 April 1930), married Leopold Judell and lived in Orroroo.
• Rachael "Ray" Salom (born 28 March 1862), married Maurice Harris, a prosperous retired merchant in Christchurch, New Zealand.
• Henry Isaac Salom (31 December 1865 – 22 February 1923), worked as a broker and agent on Grenfell Street; served as treasurer for Adelaide Hospital’s Samaritan Fund before embezzling £250 leading to an eighteen-month imprisonment; subsequently employed by G. Wood & Son.
• Alfred M. Salom (c. 1868 – 22 January 1899), banker and football player; succumbed to typhoid fever.
• Florence Sarah Salom (13 March 1869 – 11 January 1951), married jeweller Louis Saber who died insolvent.
• Laura E. Salom (14 August 1870 – 9 October 1945), wed timber merchant Leama Judah "Bob" Davies; passed away in England.
• Horace Samuel Salom (28 October 1874 – 5 November 1959), married circa 1900; resided in Perth, Western Australia.
• Estelle Miriam Salom (24 February 1876 – 11 May 1960), married Sir Michael Myers and lived in Wellington, New Zealand.
• Lillian Ruth Salom (30 July 1877 – 30 January 1934), married Frederic S. L. Catchlove; lived on Strangways Terrace in North Adelaide.
• Walter Judah Salom (born 19 February 1879), married Ruby Asher; spent significant periods living in South Africa.
• Bertram Philip "Bertie" Salom (19 February 1879 – 27 August 1960), married Neva Eudora Shepherd (divorced in 1921) and later Gwendolyn Baron.

His sister Sarah was wedded to timber merchant and pastoralist M. C. Davies.