Anthony Symes (1844–1848), James Frederick Levi (1846–1878), Edmund Phillip Symes Levi (1848–1848), Charles Symes Levi (1849–1900), Andrew Philip Levi (1851–1927), Edmund Symes Levi (1853–1877), Adelaide Phillipi Field (1855–1930), Caroline Elizabeth Symes (1857–1857), George Nathaniel Levi (1862–1897), Caroline Elizabeth Symes Levi (1864–1864), Frederick Symes Levi (1865–1887)
Parent(s)
Nathan Philip Levi (1790–1843) and Sarah nee Goldsmid (1795–1889)[1]
Born at Brixton Hill, Surrey, England,[3] Levi arrived in South Australia at the age of sixteen, 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.[4] He was in 1863 one of the founders and a trustee of the Adelaide Club, where a portrait of him still hangs today.[5]
In 1853, Levi purchased Vale House,[6] 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.[6]
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.[7]
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 1947, his niece left Vale House and the adjoining land to the Town of Walkerville for the purposes of a public park.[3][6] The house is today a part of Levi Caravan Park, which bears his name.
Family
His parents were Nathan Philip Levi (1794–21 Jul 1843 Adelaide, South Australia, Australia)[8] and Sarah (nee Goldsmid) (1799–14 March 1889 Torrens, South Australia, Australia).[9]
Philip Levi's (1822–1898) and Elizabeth Symes' (c. 1822 – 24 November 1882[10])[11] 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.
↑"Family Notices". The Express and Telegraph. Vol.XIX, no.5, 666. South Australia. 28 November 1882. p.2 (SECOND EDITION). Retrieved 1 January 2017– via National Library of Australia.
↑Despite a report that Philip and Elizabeth married in 1842 after publication of his obituary ("The Late Mr. Philip Levi". The Advertiser. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 25 May 1898. p.3. Retrieved 1 June 2015.) there is no record of a marriage and most of their children's birth registrations indicate that they were unmarried with both his and her surnames cross referenced
