The man behind North Geelong’s iconic Sphinx Hotel has died.
Ray Ramia passed away surrounded by family on Sunday 29 May. He was 90.
In addition to establishing The Sphinx, Mr Ramia worked as a tailor and ran a menswear store, a building company and a small farm.
In a statement, the Ramia family paid tribute to one of the elder statesmen of Geelong’s business world.
Mr Ramia ended up in Geelong almost by accident, the family said.
“The then 21-year-old Ray arrived in Geelong in 1947 on what he thought would be a short visit to his grandmother, who was in poor health.
“His intention was to return with her to Lebanon where her family could care for her.
“But his grandmother had other ideas, refused to leave Australia and Ray decided to stay and look after her.”
Ray established his first business as a tailor in Autumn Street in 1946 aged 20, working long hours building the business up to the stage where it employed 16 seamstresses and tailors.
When it came time to start a family Ray went back to Lebanon and in 1955 married Elaine Alam, his partner of 54 years.
The following year he opened Ramia’s Exclusive Menswear in Little Malop Street, developing a reputation for making uniforms, even supplying Victoria Police.
Diversifying his business interests, Mr Ramia built the Golf View Hotel in Thompsons Road, North Geelong, in 1971 and six years later he embarked on a major rebuilding and renovation program.
The 15 metre high replica of Egypt’s world-famous 4500 year-old monument The Sphinx was added to the renamed entertainment centre, which is still owned and operated by the Ramia family after 45 years.
Mr Ramia was seriously injured in a car accident in 2005 but demonstrated his “courage and strength” to recover.
“He built his life on the ethics of strong family values and hard work,” the family statement said.
“With a passion for farms and building houses, Ray founded a building company in 1975 and built many homes in Bell Post Hill.
“He owned a farm at Lara and during the 1980s would travel there every day to feed his sheep and cattle with bales of hay transported in the boot of his Rolls Royce.
“Ray had a passion for Geelong which, through his own energy and business acumen, enabled him to become a successful businessman.
“Geelong is much richer because of the man who came to Geelong for a short visit and never left.”
Mr Ramia is survived by wife Elaine, children George, Paul, Marlene and Julie, and 11 grandchildren.
