Myer family

The Myer family is an Australian retailing dynasty of Jewish origin whose wealth and public identity were built primarily through the Myer department-store business. The family’s Australian story began with brothers Elcon Baevski and Simcha Baevski, later known as Sidney Myer. They came from a large Russian Jewish family in Krychaw, in present-day Belarus, and migrated to Australia after growing up in modest circumstances. In Australia they adopted the Myer surname, learned English, and entered retailing. Sidney Myer became the central figure in the family’s commercial history. He established the Myer department-store business and used it as the foundation for the family’s wealth and influence. His retail enterprise became associated with the development of modern department-store shopping in Australia, although the family article primarily emphasizes the dynasty, its succession, and its philanthropy rather than providing a detailed corporate history of the store chain. A significant family connection was Sidney Myer’s marriage to Merlyn Baillieu on 8 January 1920. Merlyn came from the prominent Baillieu family, linking the Myers by marriage to another established Australian business and philanthropic family. The marriage also contributed to the family’s place within Australia’s broader commercial and civic elite. Sidney Myer died in 1934. After his death, his nephew Sir Norman Myer continued much of the family’s retailing dynasty, providing continuity in the operation and development of the business. This succession was important because it preserved the family’s role in Australian retail after the death of its principal founder. The Myer family is also associated with a substantial philanthropic tradition. The family’s public legacy therefore extends beyond retailing to charitable and civic activity. In 1976, the family established one of Australia’s first single-family offices, an institutional step reflecting the management of family wealth and interests across generations. The available reference material does not provide a current operating-company structure, a definitive list of living family members, or a current commercial status for the dynasty itself. Accordingly, the Myer family is best described as a historical Australian family dynasty rather than as a conventional standalone consumer brand.

The Myer family traces its origins to the Baevski family, a Russian Jewish family from Krychaw, now in Belarus. Elcon Baevski and his younger brother Simcha Baevski were among eleven sons of Ezekiel Baevski and Koona Dubrusha. After migrating to Australia, the brothers learned English and adopted the family name Myer. Their migration and commercial activity formed the basis of a family story that combined immigrant entrepreneurship, retail development, philanthropy, and intergenerational wealth management. Simcha Baevski, who became known as Sidney Myer, was the principal creator of the family’s Australian commercial fortune. He founded the Myer department-store business, establishing the retail enterprise that would make the family name widely recognized in Australia. The reference material identifies the department store as the foundation of the family’s wealth, but does not specify every stage of its expansion or provide a complete chronology of its corporate development. On 8 January 1920, Sidney Myer married Merlyn Baillieu, a member of the wealthy Baillieu family. This marriage connected the Myers with another prominent Australian family and became an important part of the dynasty’s social and business history. Merlyn is identified in the reference material as Sidney’s wife and as part of the family’s founding story in Australia. Sidney Myer died in 1934. His nephew, Sir Norman Myer, subsequently continued much of the retailing dynasty. Norman’s role provided continuity after the death of the family member who had established the department-store business and created the family fortune. The succession illustrates the importance of kinship and family stewardship in the development of the Myer retail legacy. Retailing was only one part of the family’s longer-term public identity. The Myer family developed a strong philanthropic tradition, although the supplied material does not enumerate particular foundations, beneficiaries, or gifts. In 1976, the family established one of Australia’s first single-family offices. This marked a further institutional development: the family’s wealth and affairs were being managed through a dedicated structure rather than solely through the operating retail business. The family article presents the Myers primarily as a dynasty rather than as a current brand or legally unified company. The available sources do not establish a current head of family, a single present-day owner, a headquarters, or an active family-wide operating entity. They also do not establish whether all descendants remain connected to the Myer retail business. The historically supported account therefore ends with the family’s continuing philanthropic and wealth-management legacy, while leaving current commercial arrangements unspecified.

• 1976

  Establishment of a single-family office

  [1]Myer familyen.wikipedia.org

  The family established one of Australia’s first single-family offices, formalizing the management of family wealth and interests across generations.

• 1934

  Sidney Myer dies

  [1]Myer familyen.wikipedia.org

  Sidney Myer died, after which his nephew Sir Norman Myer continued much of the family’s retailing dynasty.

• 1920

  Sidney Myer marries Merlyn Baillieu

  [1]Myer familyen.wikipedia.org

  On 8 January 1920, Sidney Myer married Merlyn Baillieu, linking the Myer family with the prominent Baillieu family.

• 1878

  Birth of Sidney Myer

  [1]Myer familyen.wikipedia.org

  Simcha Baevski, later known as Sidney Myer, was born in the same Russian Jewish family.

• 1875

  Birth of Elcon Myer

  [1]Myer familyen.wikipedia.org

  Elcon Baevski, later known as Elcon Myer, was born into the Baevski family in Krychaw, then part of the Russian Empire and now Belarus.

Historical Australian retailing dynasty with a strong philanthropic and family-wealth-management legacy.

• Department-store retail

  Myer department stores

  The Myer department-store business was founded by Sidney Myer and became the commercial foundation of the family’s wealth and public identity. The supplied reference describes it as the family’s principal retail enterprise, but does not provide a complete account of its merchandise categories, store footprint, or current operating structure.

1. 1Myer familyen.wikipedia.org