Siblings think Solomon St has a nice ring to it

Six generations of Solomons have contributed to the town, most notably with their carrying service Solomon Transport.

“Our family has been in the town for 120 to 130 years,” Billy, the oldest of six living siblings, said.

“My grandfather had the first truck in Seymour, and we’ve been in the carrying business in Seymour for over 100 years. We’ve been involved in most sporting clubs in town for about 100 years, as well.

“We’ve been here for a very long time, and we’re a rather big family.”

The family’s legacy in town began with their great-grandfather, who operated a store on Emily St.

“He was blind, our great grandfather,” Margaret said.

“He used to get furs, the fox furs and everything, people would bring them into his store.

“He could tell the quality by feeling them ... He would know if people were trying to diddle him.”

Solomon Transport, which carts the family’s name across the region, launched with their grandfather, who, as Billy said, had the first truck in town.

Their grandmother was also a notable figure, operating the old bottle and bone yard.

Today, locals would know the family as Margaret, Billy, Eileen, Jack and Allan, as well as their sister Chris, who lives in Adelaide, and two other sisters who have passed on.

All but Chris and Jack, who now lives in Shepparton, have remained in Seymour for most or all of their lives.

“I think it was home,” Margaret said, explaining why she returned to Seymour after living in Perth for two decades.

“It was where Mum and Dad were, and our grandparents and their parents. It goes back a long way.”

Today, the Solomon name has spread throughout town, but to the family, it’s in all places but one.

For decades, they have been trying to have a street named after them to immortalise their name for generations to come.

“It came up quite a few years ago that they were going to put a Solomon St in, and it sort of got everyone interested, and then nothing ever came of it,” Billy said.

While many in the family have made valuable contributions to the town over the years, including Alan and Jack, who are life members of SeymourFM and have their own studio named after the family, the Solomons remain disappointed that they won’t be remembered in this way.

“It would be great to see because I feel that our family deserves to have a street sign in our name,” Margaret said.

“I live in Kennedy St, and they were dairy people, and then just off my street is Coughlin Crt, who were the people that had the hotel for years and years.”

Now, the family are continuing to advocate for this honour; however, they hope to see it through before time runs out.

“I think we’ve got the history belonging to this town, there should be something in this town to remember us,” Margaret said.

“We’ve just never managed to get a street in our name, and I’d like to see it before I pass away.”