Object numberM2015/005:001
DescriptionThis is a typed one-page letter from Jolli [Jolana] in Zurich, to Alexander and Luzie in Australia. The letter is dated 30th January 1946.
Jolana is the sister of John Hilton, one of Sydney’s most successful fashion manufacturers. The success of John J Hilton in Australia had its roots in a small town near Bratislava, where the parents of Gyula Heitler depended on his help in their general store. Here he learned how to buy and sell. Arriving from Europe in 1947, Gyula changed his name to John J Hilton and worked for his sponsor Alexander ‘Gigi’ Schwarz at Olympia Fashions, a dress shop in Pitt Street. Together with his elder brother Emil he started a business manufacturing ladies knitwear.
Adopting the trading name, John J Hilton, they looked around for what Australia might not have in fashion and decided to focus on women in their mid-twenties and older, offering them elegant frocks at a fair price. The dresses would be durable and not likely to go out of fashion quickly. He made up a slogan ‘It’s a Honey, It’s a Hilton’. The business grew to 100 employees. With showrooms around Australia and representatives in Paris, New York and London, John J Hilton was one of the first to export Australian fashion to Japan, as well as to Singapore, Hong Kong, Canada and United States. A pioneer in the use of wool in women’s dresses, John J Hilton was the recipient of fashion awards, including the Australian Wool Award.
This letter is a part of a correspondence between Gyula [John], Emil [Gyula's brother] and Alexander [relative of Gyula and Emil, often referred to as Sandor], in order to settle Gyula and Emil over to Australia. In this letter, Jolana writes amongst other things: "Gyula has had big problems with the Czechs who, till last Friday, would not give him a pass. Emil has been in touch about more documents from the Devos Sanatorium and other things I managed to get and send on to him and now believe at last that he will get his trip abroad. He did after all get an Entry Permit back on 28 November and Emil too has the Entry Permit only the Czechs making difficulties with going abroad. I have been in touch with him about the Permit to Australia but as Paul has written, you can’t count on anything within a year on account of travel problems."
Jolana is the sister of John Hilton, one of Sydney’s most successful fashion manufacturers. The success of John J Hilton in Australia had its roots in a small town near Bratislava, where the parents of Gyula Heitler depended on his help in their general store. Here he learned how to buy and sell. Arriving from Europe in 1947, Gyula changed his name to John J Hilton and worked for his sponsor Alexander ‘Gigi’ Schwarz at Olympia Fashions, a dress shop in Pitt Street. Together with his elder brother Emil he started a business manufacturing ladies knitwear.
Adopting the trading name, John J Hilton, they looked around for what Australia might not have in fashion and decided to focus on women in their mid-twenties and older, offering them elegant frocks at a fair price. The dresses would be durable and not likely to go out of fashion quickly. He made up a slogan ‘It’s a Honey, It’s a Hilton’. The business grew to 100 employees. With showrooms around Australia and representatives in Paris, New York and London, John J Hilton was one of the first to export Australian fashion to Japan, as well as to Singapore, Hong Kong, Canada and United States. A pioneer in the use of wool in women’s dresses, John J Hilton was the recipient of fashion awards, including the Australian Wool Award.
This letter is a part of a correspondence between Gyula [John], Emil [Gyula's brother] and Alexander [relative of Gyula and Emil, often referred to as Sandor], in order to settle Gyula and Emil over to Australia. In this letter, Jolana writes amongst other things: "Gyula has had big problems with the Czechs who, till last Friday, would not give him a pass. Emil has been in touch about more documents from the Devos Sanatorium and other things I managed to get and send on to him and now believe at last that he will get his trip abroad. He did after all get an Entry Permit back on 28 November and Emil too has the Entry Permit only the Czechs making difficulties with going abroad. I have been in touch with him about the Permit to Australia but as Paul has written, you can’t count on anything within a year on account of travel problems."
Production placeZürich, Switzerland
Production date
Object nameletters
Dimensions
- width: 210.00 mm
height: 296.00 mm
Language
- German My Dear Alex and Luzie, Zurich 30/01/1946
Although I got no reply to my last letter I assume that you received it in the meantime. Today I want to let you know quickly that Latti(?) from Vienna has just contacted me and enquired about you and poor Heinz and have just written her and advised her about the very sad news. I also passed on your address and at the same time requested her to make enquiries in Vienna about all my dear Sidmonds Aladars people at various places that may be able to pass on information and get something positive. Hoping she will get my letter despite the censorship. I dare not ask, my dears, how you are going and am only praying to God that she would give you strength to bear with the great misfortune and pain and would be very happy to hear from you again.
Gyula has had big problems with the Czechs who, till last Friday, would not give him a pass. Emil has been in touch about more documents from the Devos Sanatorium and other things I managed to get and send on to him and now believe at last that he will get his trip abroad. He did after all get an Entry Permit back on 28 November and Emil too has the Entry Permit only the Czechs making difficulties with going abroad.
I have been in touch with him about the Permit to Australia but as Paul has written, you can’t count on anything within a year on account of travel problems. We will discuss all this further when you are here. I am already expecting to see somebody of our family at last but unfortunately we have found out nothing and almost given up all hope. It is possible, God willing, for a miracle to happen but could we be the ones to benefit? I have given Ferro your address. I have good news from Gretl, Paul and Susi, Gretl has found her friend Hugo in Paris and Paul is now trying to get him to England so that she can get married. She deserves some happiness as its miserable to live alone. As I found out Peter has got married but without saying a word. I have tried to send some food and money to Hugo and Susu with the help of some people, till now we have had no confirmation from them. There is no parcel post from here, I am sending it through people going to Paris from here, including the money. Everything is fine here, Michel is travelling, he has to work hard as we have greatly expanded (?) and the export business has not taken off. This is a great pity I am hoping, my dears that have collected yourselves, it is shocking but some consolation to have a grave. Where is the rest and what pain do they have to endure? This goes around in my head day and night and often think I can’t take any more, but it has to be and mankind has to wriggle around this.
Lots of regards and best wishes Jolli.
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Jeffrey Hilton