Victor Smorgon
Victor Smorgon | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Heidelberg, Ukraine, Russian Empire |
| Died | July 3, 2009 (aged 96) Melbourne, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, patron of the arts, philanthropist |
| Known for | Founder and former leader of the Victor Smorgon Group |
Victor Smorgon (2 January 1913 – 3 July 2009) was a prominent Australian entrepreneur, patron of the arts, and philanthropist, recognized as the founder and former leader of the Victor Smorgon Group.
Biography
Victor Smorgon was born in 1913 in Heidelberg, a German community located in Ukraine within the boundaries of the Russian Empire. His father, Naum (Norman) Smorgon, managed a kosher butcher business until its nationalization in 1927. That same year, the family relocated to Australia and reestablished their kosher butchery in Melbourne’s Carlton North neighborhood. Victor became involved in the wholesale meat trade, which prospered and enabled the family to diversify into sectors such as plastics, glass, steel, and recycling through Smorgon Consolidated Industries.
By 1995, the holdings of Smorgon Consolidated Industries—comprising steel, paper, plastics, packaging, and real estate—were estimated to be worth between A$1.2 billion and A$1.5 billion. During that year, the family sold off most of SCI’s assets except for the publicly listed Smorgon Steel Group, which ranked as Australia's second-largest steel manufacturer. The capital obtained was allocated among the seven Australian branches of the Smorgon family and subsequently reinvested or utilized to acquire new ventures under the Victor Smorgon Group.
Personal life
In 1937, Victor married Loti Smorgon at the East Melbourne Synagogue. Together they had four daughters: Sandra Smorgon Bardas, Ginny Smorgon Green, Vicki Smorgon Vidor, and Bindy Smorgon Koadlow. Victor Smorgon passed away in Melbourne, Australia on 3 July 2009 at the age of 96.
Honours
In recognition of his significant contributions as an art benefactor, Victor Smorgon was named an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1990. Later, in 2007, he received elevation to Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for his wide-ranging support of community initiatives, particularly within the fields of art, education, and healthcare.