User:Ikeshut2/sandbox5: Difference between revisions – Wikipedia

At the [[1882 New South Wales colonial election|general election]] held in December 1882 both Levin and Lyne were re-elected unopposed to represent the Hume electorate in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.<ref>[https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/electionresults18562007/1882/Hume.htm The Hume – 1882], ‘New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007’, ”Parliament of New South Wales” website; accessed 22 October 2025.</ref>

At the [[1882 New South Wales colonial election|general election]] held in December 1882 both Levin and Lyne were re-elected unopposed to represent the Hume electorate in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.<ref>[https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/electionresults18562007/1882/Hume.htm The Hume – 1882], ‘New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007’, ”Parliament of New South Wales” website; accessed 22 October 2025.</ref>

In February 1883 a special meeting was held at Corowa in regard to Levin’s insolvent estate.<ref name=insolvent/>

During the period he was a member for the Hume Levin and his colleague William Lyne were active in pushing for improvements in the electorate, such as direct telegraphic communication between Albury and Deniliquin and the raising of the road above flood level between Corowa and the bridge over the Murray. Bridges erected across the Murray at Howlong and Yarrawonga.<ref name=obitCFP/>

During the period he was a member for the Hume Levin and his colleague William Lyne were active in pushing for improvements in the electorate, such as direct telegraphic communication between Albury and Deniliquin and the raising of the road above flood level between Corowa and the bridge over the Murray. Bridges erected across the Murray at Howlong and Yarrawonga.<ref name=obitCFP/>

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Prussian-born Australian politician

Leyser Levin
In office 25 November 1880 – 7 October 1885
Born	23 April 1829 Germany (Prussia)
Died	26 January 1908(1908-01-26) (aged 78)

Leyser Levin (23 April 1829 – 26 January 1908) was a Prussian-born Australian politician.

Leyser Levin was born on 23 April 1829 in Germany.^[1]

In 1852, as a young man, Levin emigrated to London from Bromberg in Prussia (now Poland). His immigration record records his occupation as a merchant.^[2]

Leyser Levin and Johanna Schnog were married on 22 March 1854 at the New Synagogue in Liverpool, England. The first two of their seven children were born in England.^[2]

Levin and his family emigrated to Australia, arriving in Melbourne on 25 June 1855 aboard the clipper ship Champion of the Seas.^[2]

Levin formed a partnership with Bernard King operating a business as tobacconists at 202 Bourke Street in Melbourne. The partnership was dissolved “by mutual consent” in November 1856.^[3]

In late 1860 or 1861 Levin “was induced to go to Rutherglen“, north-east of Melbourne near the Murray River.^[1][4] He arrived at a time when Rutherglen “was a canvas town”. Levin commenced business in Drummond Street. The centre of the township was later relocated from the low swampy ground of Drummond Street to a more easterly location in High Street where “Mr. Levin’s name was prominent among the names of the various business places”.^[4]

In July 1866 Levin purchased a store at Wahgunyah formerly conducted by Main and Baldock. Although Levin was then living at Rutherglen, he had been a frequent visitor to nearby Wahgunyah. The article reporting the change commented: “the straightforward and business-like way he has carried out his engagements will ensure for him here increased patronage”.^[5]

Levin later turned his attention to Corowa, opposite Wahgunyah on the New South Wales side of the Murray River.^[1][4] In 1868 he erected a brick store at Corowa, the first such building in the township. The “handsome and substantial store” was completed in September 1868, a building described as one that “certainly reflects great credit to owner and builders” and which will “compare favorably with any in Melbourne or Sydney”.^[6][7]

In May 1869 Levin’s store in Wahgunyah caught alight in the middle of the night. By the time it was discovered “the fire was so far advanced that any attempts to save anything in the store were perfectly futile, owing to the inflammable nature of its contents – the shelves being made of pine, and the roof of shingles”. Efforts were directed towards successfully saving Levin’s adjoining dwelling house as well as the Court House.^[8]

In 1870 Levin built the first flour mill in Corowa. He developed a flourishing trade supplying flour to Riverina townships such as Swan Hill, Deniliquin, Balranald and Hay, much of it being conveyed by river steamers.^[1]

Levin constructed the premises which was later leased and occupied by the Bank of New South Wales, “the bank then not having sufficient confidence in Corowa to build for themselves”.^[1]

Levin was a director of the Murray Bridge Company, which erected the first bridge between Wahgunyah and Corowa. He was active in local matters, being one of the founders of the Corowa Agricultural Society and the School of Arts.^[1]

In 1874 Levin purchased the ‘Goombargona’ and ‘Oil Tree’ pastoral stations, which he kept “for a couple of years” before they were sold to J. G. Gray.^[1]

Building Society; Progress Committee; Corowa Flour Mill

In July 1876 Levin left Australia to travel to the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, leaving his wife and family to carry on the storekeeping and milling business in Corowa during his absence”. On the eve of his departure a farewell banquet was held for him at the Royal Hotel in Corowa.^[1][9]

In May 1879 Levin became the fourth partner of a partnership previously made up of Abraham Goldberg, Herman Goldberg and Lipman Levinsohn, in business as clothing manufacturers and warehousemen trading in Melbourne and Sydney under the new name of Levin, Goldberg Bros. and Co. At about the same time Levin admitted his sons Henry and Jacob as partners in his business at Corowa, as general storekeepers and wine and spirit merchants and trading as L. Levin and Sons. Levin’s sole trader business, as a miller and produce merchant at Corowa, continued unchanged.^[10]

Levin later claimed to have withdrawn as a partner from Levin, Goldberg Bros. and Co. in July 1880, but by that stage he had contributed about nine thousand pounds to the partnership and had received no repayments. At the request of the manager of the Bank of New South Wales Levin’s withdrawal from the partnership was not made public. The debt owed to him was reduced to five thousand pounds after Levin took goods in lieu of money.^[11]

In 1880 Levin decided to contest the New South Wales elections for the Hume electorate. Under the Electoral Act of 1880 the Hume electorate was changed from a single member to a two-member electorate.

Four candidates were nominated for the electorate. At the election held in November 1880 Levin was elected as one of the two members to represent the Hume electorate in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, together with William J. Lyne. Levin polled behind Lyne with 803 votes (or 30.4 percent).^[12]

The Melbourne firm of Levin, Goldberg Bros. and Co. was experiencing financial difficulties and in early July 1882 they held a meeting of creditors to request time to pay their debts. Levin attended the meeting both as a partner and a creditor.^[11]

At the general election held in December 1882 both Levin and Lyne were re-elected unopposed to represent the Hume electorate in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.^[13]

In February 1883 a special meeting was held at Corowa in regard to Levin’s insolvent estate.^[11]

During the period he was a member for the Hume Levin and his colleague William Lyne were active in pushing for improvements in the electorate, such as direct telegraphic communication between Albury and Deniliquin and the raising of the road above flood level between Corowa and the bridge over the Murray. Bridges erected across the Murray at Howlong and Yarrawonga.^[1]

In about 1883 Levin purchased land near Wahgunyah on which he had planted seventy acres of grape-vines for the production of wine.^[14]

Insolvency (1883).^[11]

Levin did not re-contest in 1885.

After his retirement from politics Levin devoted his time to viticulture on his ‘Lake Vineyard’ property on Lake Moodemere, a large billabong south of Wahgunyah and west of Rutherglen. A description of his vineyard published in 1887 detailed the wine grape varieties grown there: Pedro, Shiraz, Reisling, Madeira and Brown Muscatel. He also grew the table grape varieties Black Hamburg, Black Prince and Muscat Alexandra. On a farm adjoining his vineyard Levin cultivated twenty-five acres of land, from which in 1886 he produced seventy bags of wheat, thirty bags of oats and about fifteen tons of chaff and hay.^[15] Levin’s farm near Lake Moodemere was described as “one of the best vineyard properties in the district”. He was was an active member of the Vinegrowers’ Association and “was always ready to give the experience he had gained in parliament for the betterment of the industry”.^[4]

In January 1903 Leyser and Johanna Levin went to live in St Kilda in Melbourne, due to Levin’s “failing health”.^[1][4]

Leyser Levin died on 26 January 1908 at St Kilda, aged 78.^[1][16] His widow Johanna Levin died at Darlinghurst in Sydney in November 1908, aged 78.^[17]