Emanuel Cohen was businessman in South Australia, and was responsible for the erection of several of Adelaide's premier buildings.
History
Cohen was born in London and emigrated to Australia, arriving in Melbourne aboard Coromandel in August 1852, and made his way to Adelaide in the same month. It was the time of the Victorian gold rush, and he joined the exodus to the diggings. He had no luck as a prospector, and worked and joined with a company supplying requisites to the diggers at Forest Creek, Barkers Creek, Loddon, Bendigo, Maryborough, Avoca and Tarrengower. At Bendigo he renewed acquaintance with author B. L. Farjeon who founded a newspaper there. In 1856 he returned to Adelaide, where he began speculating as a property developer. Among his notable activities were:
Around 1863 he pulled down three shops opposite the Globe Hotel in Rundle Street and rebuilt them.
From 1865 he operated a general store in Goolwa, living on Admiral Terrace. His business was taken over in 1873 by Thomas Goode.
In 1877 he built a three-storeyed building at "Muirhead's Corner" of King William and Hindley streets, for a time tenanted by the "Monster Clothing Palace". Cohen opened a restaurant, "Shades", in its large cellar.
He was a member of the syndicate that built the Adelaide Arcade, and in London personally selected the glass, the marble floor tiling, and the electric light fittings.
He died at his residence, Gover Street, North Adelaide.
Family
Emanuel Cohen married cousin Sarah Benjamin, of the well-known Solomon family, on 11 December 1858. She died in Bondi. Their family included:
Benjamin E. Cohen married Matilda Victorsen in 1876. He was manager of the jewellery department of P. Falk & Co.
Anna Cohen married Hindley Street draper Lewis Moss in 1886; they lived at North Adelaide until 1892 or later.
Moses Cohen employed in the Architect-in-Chief's office, Perth
Samuel Elias Cohen manager, jewellery department of Hoffnung & Co., Sydney.
Philip Alfred "Paddy" Cohen married widow Violet Annie "Nan" Wiggins on 12 July 1893
Lawrence Cohen married Catherine "Kate" Cohen, on 18 May 1862
Their home before 1866 was on Hindley Street, and "Lorne Villas", South Terrace from 1873. His brother Samuel Cohen married Sarah's sister Fanny Benjamin on 28 July 1852; they lived in Gawler; he was sued for not supporting illegitimate child, died in New Zealand.
