The Solomonsons

Victor and Hanehan Braun (commonly known as Sarah) Solomonson may be the first recorded Jewish burials at Carlyle Cemetery. Their gravesite is the last visible gravesite in the Jewish section of the cemetery.

Arrival to Australia

Victor was born in the Almelo Municipality in Eastern Netherlands in 1822 and immigrated on unassisted passage to Australia in 1853. He was the son of Abraham Solomonson and Rosetta Ling. Sarah was born in Rawicz in Prussia. Her parents, Moses Nathan Braun and Sarah Braun (nee Pasch), were early colony wool merchants in Melbourne.  The couple married at a Melbourne synagogue in 1858.

The Solomonsons' Store 

As early pioneers, the Solomonsons were storekeepers, running a general store in Rutherglen. They sold boots, shoes, drapery, groceries, tobacco and fancy goods in Main Street, backing onto Murray Street. When Victor died in 1869, aged 44 years, Sarah extended their business to cover men’s grooming services, such as haircuts and shaves.  

Sarah remarried another local storekeeper and family friend following Victors death, Charles Harris. Charles was already a successful businessman and co-owned “The Anchor Store” with his sisters’ husband William (known as Anchor Bill Smith). Charles was active in the local community as a Councillor. Sarah continued to manage and administer her store after her second marriage to Charles Harris up to her death in 1886 at the age of 64. Upon her death, Charles Harris was awarded Sarah’s holdings and property, which were considerable, in accordance with her wishes. 

Burial

Sarah and Victor were buried together in the Jewish section of Carlyle Cemetery. Although there are other burials in the area, the Solomonsons are the only remaining visible grave.  Sarah was buried according to the rules of the Hebrew Church with Reverend Moses Saunders from Melbourne presiding over her service and burial. In respect for her religion, Thomas Harris erected Sarah's headstone ensuring the Hebrew details were correct and recorded (epitaph, Hebrew Name and Hebrew dating). Sarah’s recorded Hebrew name is Sarah Chana Bat Moshe. 

In the book publication by Brian Lloyd “Rutherglen” 1985, Brian describes there having been a significant marble headstone erected for Victor. Sadly this is not standing today.