Sir Roland Ellis "Raoul" Jacobs was a South Australian businessman, for many years at the head of South Australia's largest brewery and hotel chain, and an active supporter of many high-profile cultural, sporting and charitable organizations.
History
Sir Roland was born in Adelaide the youngest child and only son of Samuel Joshua Jacobs and his wife Caroline Jacobs, née Ellis. Samuel was well known in business and sporting circles, having been both chairman of directors of S.A.B.C. and an S.A.J.C. committee member for over 30 years. Sir Roland was educated at Geelong College and the Adelaide Shorthand and Business Training Academy, of which his father was a generous patron. Roland volunteered for active service during the First World War, but was rejected as unfit and instead served as a training officer in Adelaide. After a few clerical jobs, he was appointed in 1924 to a managerial position in Adelaide for brewers' supplier F. A. Henriques Ltd. This company, based in Perth, Western Australia, was taken over by Mauri Bros. and Thomson in July 1930. He was appointed assistant-manager and then manager. In July 1948 he was appointed to the board of the South Australian Brewing Company, and promptly elected managing director then chairman in 1951, which he retained until March 1965. He held the managing director's position until June 1961.
He married Olga Hertzberg on 29 August 1917. Her father was a Queensland businessman and at one time mayor of Roma, Queensland. They had three children:
Doreen Miriam Jacobs AM D.Mus married architect Peter Bridges around 1950. She was a noted teacher of music, pianist and member of the Australian Communist Party for a time, awarded AM in 1984 for services to music education.
Samuel Joshua "Sam" Jacobs AO QC married Mary Gordon Scott He was a noted Freemason, barrister and judge, and awarded the AO in 1982.
Eleanor Caroline Jacobs married William Andrew Noye Wells, barrister and judge.
He married Esther "Ess" Cook MBE on 30 November 1970. This was her third marriage. Esther was a daughter of Vaiben Louis Solomon. They lived on Tusmore Avenue, Leabrook.
Recognition
A caricature, by staff artist Lionel Coventry, was published in the Advertiser in 1949. He was knighted in 1963 A portrait, painted by Sir William Dargie is held by his daughter Doreen Bridges AM.
