Kings Cross Rotary Presents: A chat with Samuel B. Hordern

Samuel B. Hordern is the 7th generation descendent of the prominent Hordern family who came to Australia in 1825 pioneering the early retail industry with the formation of Anthony Hordern and sons. Eventually spanning 21 hectares, it was once the largest department store in the world.

The family expanded in agriculture, finance, fashion, sport and politics and its prominence in Sydney is seen through the naming of the Hordern Pavilion, Hordern beach, Hordern Oval at Cranbrook School among many others.

The Hordern family have also been benefactors for many philanthropic and community minded endeavours. These include being founders of the private schools Cranbrook and Kambala, running the Royal Agricultural Society for many decades and being the founders of the Australian Equestrian Association to name a few. Not widely known is the family’s philanthropic funding of the Mawson expedition to Antarctica more than a century ago. Mawson subsequently named Cape Hordern and Mount Hordern in Antarctica after the family.

Today, Samuel B. Hordern is active in the family’s philanthropic work in a wide range of sectors. Sam is also a film maker and is involved in the Aus-China film sector building industry to industry relationships between the two countries.