Dr Harry Hoffman

HARRY HOFFMAN, a Holocaust survivor and philanthropist who developed much of the housing stock in Perth’s suburbs, died December 5, aged 92. 

Dr Hoffman was born in 1929 in Dobove, Czechoslovakia. His family were taken to Auschwitz in May 1944. 

He survived, but his mother and two sisters perished. 

Dr Hoffman came to Australia in 1949 and worked as a lumberjack in Manjimup, then later moved to Perth to learn English. He got into development and founded Ardross Estates in 1966, rolling out large housing projects and subdivisions across the state.

Robbed of his own education, he gave away huge sums to educational causes, including many large donations to Carmel School and finding university scholarships. 

Philanthropy

He was awarded an OAM in 2000 for his philanthropy to community groups and education, and a centenary medal in 2003, and was made a member of the Order of Australia for his community service and charity in 2019.

Stirling mayor Mark Irwin paid tribute to Dr Hoffman at the December 6 council meeting, offering condolences to Dr Hoffman’s niece, councillor Suzanne Migdale.

“Through his generosity and his vision to both the Jewish and the wider communities, numerous organisations have been able to develop their facilities, including the Carmel school which bears the Hoffman name in its official title,” Mr Irwin said.

“As mayor I had the privilege of meeting Dr Hoffman on a number of occasions, and this remarkable man survived the Holocaust and went on to develop entire suburbs within Western Australia.

“Moving to Coolbinia since before the City of Stirling’s conception, Dr Hoffman remained an active resident for the city throughout his wonderful and long life.”

by DAVID BELL