David Rosenthal, a Polish migrant who arrived in Melbourne in 1852, built the successful jewellry business Rosenthal, Aronson & Company.
David Rosenthal, a merchant jeweller and a native of Russian Poland, arrived in Melbourne aboard the Sydney in November 1852 (Dwyer 2008). He is recorded as living in St Kilda from as early as 1865 when he was the occupant of house in Barkly Street (RB, 1865, no. in rate 623). His first years in Melbourne were spent in business with other emigrants from Europe, firstly with Hayman Feldheim, then later also Abraham Berens, a relative, as importers and wholesale jewellers at 33 Little Collins-street west until 1859. Rosenthal then continued alone until 1871, when he, with his business partner (and brother-in-law) Saul Aronson established the firm originally known as David Rosenthal & Co, and later as Rosenthal, Aronson & Co (Dwyer 2008).
In 1872 the firm erected a jewellery manufactory at the rear of their then-retail premises at 15 Little Collins-street west. Designed by the architects Reed & Barnes and constructed of stone and brick, it was a substantial building of three storeys, and could accommodate fifty-five goldsmiths in comfort. A celebratory banquet was held at the opening of the new building, with the principal, Mr. Rosenthal, welcoming some hundred guests (Dwyer 2008)
By 1888 as many as 100 hands were employed by the firm, and more than 5000 brooches had been made, in addition to rings, lockets, chains, etc. Having built a prosperous enterprise, David Rosenthal retired in 1889, but still retained a financial interest in the business. Over time other retail branches were opened in some Australian states (Dwyer 2008). In 1901, in October, the business still known as Rosenthal, Aronson & Company was floated as a public company, with £90 000 in shares of £100 each. It is unclear whether David Rosenthal still had a financialinterest in the business at this time, but by 1903 when the business became Aronson & Company David Rosenthal was no longer a partner (Dwyer 2008). After making his will in 1893 Rosenthal lost all his money during the Depression of the 1890s, though he was able to compromise with his creditors, thereby avoiding insolvency. He passed away on 7 March 1910 aged 84 at his residence, Amoe, at 9 Redan Street, St Kilda where he had been living since 1899. He had lived in Melbourne for over fifty years, and for almost forty years had been engaged in manufacturing jewellery (Dwyer 2008).