S. H. (Samuel Henry) Ervin, (21 January 1881 – 29 October 1977), wool broker, collector and philanthropist, was born on 21 January 1881 at Monkland, Queensland. Generally known as Harry, Ervin was the youngest son of Samuel Ervin and his wife, Matilda. His father died in the same year. His mother later remarried and, during his youth, Harry used his stepfather's surname, Rohde.Australian Dictionary of Biography Ervin, Samuel Henry (Harry)(1881–1977). Accessed 25 January 2020.
The Rohde family moved to Mosman, a Sydney suburb, and Ervin attended
Sydney Church of England Grammar School
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, type = Independent single-sex and co-educational early learning, primary and secondary day and boarding school
, grades = Early learning ...
(Shore).
After he left school, Ervin went to Europe where he worked in woollen mills, before returning to Australia. During World War I he took over Lothringer & Co., a firm in which his brother-in-law Karl Lothringer was involved and, in 1927, established S. H. Ervin Limited, wool brokers.
In World War II Ervin contributed to the war effort as a wool appraiser. His firm later benefited from the post-war wool boom.
Philanthropy
Due to his association with artists at Sirius Cove, Ervin purchased works by a number of artists, including
Norman Lindsay
Norman Alfred William Lindsay (22 February 1879 – 21 November 1969) was an Australian artist, etcher, sculptor, writer, art critic, novelist, cartoonist and amateur boxer. One of the most prolific and popular Australian artists of his genera ...
, Tom Roberts and Arthur Streeton.
In the 1960s Ervin became a substantial benefactor. In 1962 he gave his collection of paintings to the Australian government and encouraged the erection of a national art gallery. In 1971 he donated $50,000 to the New South Wales branch of the
National Trust of Australia
The National Trust of Australia, officially the Australian Council of National Trusts (ACNT), is the Australian national peak body for community-based, non-government non-profit organisations committed to promoting and conserving Australia's Ind ...
Faulconbridge, New South Wales
Faulconbridge is a village located in the Blue Mountains 77 km west of Sydney, New South Wales and is 450 metres above sea level. At the 2016 census, Faulconbridge had a population of 4,025 people.
History and description
The Faulconbridg ...
and, in 1974, donated $200,000 to restore two buildings at Observatory Hill, Sydney as an art gallery and museum. The buildings were named the
S. H. Ervin Gallery
The S.H. Ervin Gallery is a major public art institution housed in the historic National Trust Centre in Observatory Park, Sydney.Conder is named in his honour.
Personal life
On 7 April 1926 Ervin married 38-year-old Muriel Beatrice Gray, nee Appel, who had two daughters from her previous marriage. The Ervins lived at Glanworth,
Darling Point
Darling Point is a harbourside eastern suburb of Sydney, Australia. It is 4 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district and is part of the local government area of Woollahra Council.
Darling Point is bounded by Sydney Harbour to t ...
, and later at The Astor, Macquarie Street, Sydney.
Ervin outlived his wife and stepdaughters and died on 29 October 1977.