Peter Emil Herbert Abeles AC (1924 - 1999)

Born 25 Apr 1924 in Vienna, Austria

Ancestors

Husband of Claire Dan — married 1947 (to 1969) in Budapest, Pest-Pilis-Solt-Kiskun, Hungary

Died 25 Jun 1999 at age 75 in New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Peter Abeles AC is Notable.

Sir Peter Emil Herbert Abeles AC was an Australian transportation magnate. A refugee from Austraia and, later, Hungary, he became a businessman in Romania, migrated to Australia, whereupon he built his 'empire' and was knighted in 1972.

formative years

Peter Abeles AC has Jewish Roots.

Peter Emil Herbert Abeles was born on 25th April 1924 at Vienna, Austria. His father was an affluent metals dealer. The family moved to Hungary to avoid the onslaught on Jewry by rampant fascism. He grew up there, in Budapest. When Germany invaded Hungary in 1944, Abeles, who was Jewish, was sent to a Nazi work camp whilst his family managed to flee to Romania. Surviving the work camp, Abeles later became a cabaret entrepreneur, working in Romania, where in 1947 he met and married his first wife, Claire Dan, a cabaret performer. In 1949, aged 25, Peter, who had enriched himself with the business acumen of his father, and his wife fled the devastation left by the Second World War and the threat of encroaching communism.

Peter Abeles AC migrated from Romania to New South Wales, Australia.

As refugees, the couple arrived in New South Wales, Australia, in 1949.

transport 'empire'

Soon after arriving in Australia, Abeles befriended George Rockey, a fellow Hungarian immigrant. The pair bought two lorries (as trucks were then known in Australia), which they named "Samson" and "Delilah," and set up a transport company, "Alltrans." By 1967, Alltrans was operating about 500 lorries across Australia and merged with Thomas National Transport (TNT); in 1968 Abeles was appointed managing director of the company to be known as TNT Ltd. Under Abeles' guidance as managing director, TNT expanded, and by the mid-1980s had established a presence in 180 countries and had become the second largest transport empire in the world, operating by road, rail, sea and air; employing some 55,000 employees.

In 1979 Abeles entered into an agreement with media mogul Rupert Murdoch to take over Ansett Transport Industries. He served as chief executive and joint managing director from 1982 until 1992.

honours and awards

Abeles was created Knight Bachelor in 1972 for services to business and the arts, on the recommendation of the New South Wales government.^[1]

He was named Australian of the Year by The Australian newspaper in 1987.

He was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 1991.^[2]

family

As Peter and Claire were unable to have children, they adopted two girls in the 1950s. He and Claire divorced in 1969, with Claire receiving life tenancy of their 23 Victoria Road, Bellevue Hill, English Manor-style home. ^[3]

Sir Peter married a second time, to Katalin "Kitty" unknown. They set up home in the 1920s Sicilian-style Villa Igiea at 6 Queens Avenue, Vaucluse, on Sydney's southern harbourside (sold in 2015 for $52.5M). When Abeles was knighted in 1972, Kitty became entitled as Lady Abeles.

retirement

During late 1992 Sir Peter stepped down from both TNT and Ansett, into retirement.

He passed away of cancer-related disease, aged 75 years, on 25th June 1999 at New South Wales; and is buried in Rookwood Cemetery, New South Wales. He was survived by Kitty and his two adopted (with Claire) daughters. Kitty passed away in January 2001, aged about 80 years. ^[4]

Sir Peter Abeles was generous with his time and money in charitable and community causes. Amongst other ventures, he established and chaired the Australian Cancer Research Foundation.

Sources

1. ↑ Australian Honours: Sir Peter Abeles; accessed 16 Mar 2019
2. ↑ Australian Honours: Peter Abeles AC; accessed 16 Mar 2019
3. ↑ Lucy Macken, 15 Jun 2013, 'Slice of life from 1960s going under the hammer'; accessed 16 Mar 2019
4. ↑ The Sydney Morning Herald 15 Jan 2001, Mon Page 3; accessed 26 Apr 2022

See also

• Urmenyhazi, Attila. 'Abeles, Sir Peter (1924–1999)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University; accessed 24 Mar 2019.
• Wikipedia profile: Peter Abeles; accessed 24 Mar 2019.