The biography of a prominent Melbourne businessman and philanthropist.
Henry Krongold died in October 2003, aged in his nineties. About a year before his death, he commissioned Melbourne historian, Dr Jim Mitchell, to write his memoirs. The author has reconstructed the story of a remarkable life, as told to him by his subject, and written it in the first person.
Henry Krongold was born in Poland, fled to Australia and became one of third country's leading businessmen and philanthropists. His memoirs contain a variety of strands. His escape to Australia during World War II from Nazi-occupied Poland took eighteen months and is an epic story in itself.
Krongold's business successes included hosiery (Charmaine and Schiaparelli), establishing Melbourne's first covered carpark (and its prize-winning Moomba floats), property development (he was an early owner of land on the Gold Coast) and carpets. He eventually came to produce one-third of Australia's output of carpets.
His philanthropy has been wide-ranging and long-term. For a decade he presided over Jewish fundraising; he funded Monash University's Krongold Centre for Exceptional Children; and he has been a generous patron of the arts - at the National Gallery of Victoria he chaired its Art Foundation and his private benefactions ranked with those of public companies. Among these benefactions was the purchase of Rupert Bunny's portrait of Dame Nellie Melba.
