WEALTHY VICTORIAN’S WILL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIX, 1 February 1936, Page 12

WEALTHY VICTORIAN’S WILL

LATE MR BENJAMIN NATHAN MELBOURNE, 19th January. Application was lodged yesterday for probate of the will of Benjamin Nathan investor, late of Ripponlea, Elsternwick, who died on 25th July, 1935. The | Victorian estate has been sworn at | £1,087,903, consisting of real estate of a gross value of £241,005 and personal estate of a gross value of £840,238. It is estimated unofficially that the Stale revenue may benefit by about £140,000 and the Federal revenue' by between £BO,OOO and £IOO,OOO in probate duties from the estate. These will be among the greatest amounts that have ever been received in probate duties in Australia, and the estate itself is the largest that has been submitted to probate in Victoria in recent vears.

Mr Nathan’s will is short and simple. Tie bequeathed the whole of his estate to his two daughters in equal parts. One of them, Mrs Louisa Jones, is

the wife of Mr -T. G. Jones, barrister, and Mrs. Lonla liannan,: the other, is the wife of Sir S. J. Hannan, of Elstcniwick. In the inventory accompanying the will Mr Nathan’s property, Ripponlea, is valued for probate at .£33,000, and the famous collection of orchids and other rare plants at £1409. It is also mentioned in the inventory that at the time of his death Mr Nathan had £208,749, in his current account with the English, Scottish and -Australian Bank at South Melbourne and that his interest in the firm of Maple’s was a 43 per cent partnership, which was valued at .-£I2S,S(i4. No sum for life insurance was included.

Mr Nathan, who was aged 70 years, founded the .furniture business of Maple's, and at the time of his death he war. the senior partner of the firm. He had extensive financial interests in several States. He was a keen follower of sport and owned several racehorses His private garden of 20 acres at Elstcniwick contained one of the finest collections of orchids in the world.