Who was Simcha Baevski?

Question: Are Simcha Baevksi and Sidney Myer the same person?

Answer: Yes. The well-known businessman and philanthropist Sidney Myer was born Simcha Baevksi in Russia in 1878. Sidney is an Anglicised form of Simcha, adopted by Baevski after his immigration to Australia in 1899. At this time he also took the second name of his eldest brother as his family name, Myer. It is under this name that he and his brother Elcon founded the cloth-trading company that would create a “retail revolution” and become one of the largest department stores in Australia.

Many Victorians connect the name Sidney Myer with the famous department store and the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne’s Alexandra Gardens; but it was Simcha Baevksi who first travelled in central Victoria, displaying samples of the cloth, buttons and thread on sale from his Bendigo store.

Name changes are not uncommon for immigrants, with names being adjusted and adapted by, or even on behalf of, immigrants themselves. This can be at times motivated by a desire to assimilate, or to disguise one’s cultural identity, especially when moving between countries whose dominant languages or cultures are very different. Some people even maintain several names, using the name most appropriate to a particular social situation.

A display case relating to this pioneering immigrant is on display at the Immigration Museum. It tells the story of Simcha and his brother Elcon establishing themselves in Victoria after fleeing their Russian homeland. The story is told within the context of a broader history of Jewish immigration to Victoria, and persecution faced by many Jewish people which forced them to leave their homelands.

The Immigration Discovery Centre located on the ground floor takes its name from its benefactors Sarah and Baillieu Myer, who are relatives of Sidney.