Philip Levi

Philip Levi (1 Feb 1822 – 13 May 1898) was an early settler and pastoralist of South Australia.

Born at Brixton Hill, Surrey, England,^[1] at the age of sixteen, Levi arrived in South Australia, aboard the Eden in 1838 with his father, Nathaniel Philip Levi. 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. He later became one of the founders and a trustee of the Adelaide Club, where a portrait of him still hangs today.^[2]

In 1853, Levi purchased Vale House,^[3] 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.^[3]

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.^[4]

Levi never married or bore any heirs. He died at Vale House and was buried in the Jewish section of the West Terrace Cemetery. His estate passed on to other members of his family, and in 1948, his niece left Vale House to the Town of Walkerville.^[1][3] He is remembered by Levi Caravan Park, which bears his name.

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