Irvin Rockman was born on 6 April 1938, the son of Polish father Norman Rockman (1910–2001) and Ukrainian mother Susie Rockman (1916–2007). Both settled in Melbourne in 1924 to escape anti-Jewish persecution in their home countries.
where Norman Rockman established a chain of clothing stores, which operated under the family name. Rockman attended high school at Wesley College, where he excelled at sports.[1][2]
He then attended the University of Melbourne, where he undertook a commerce degree. Rockman was also a well-known underwater diver.[3][4] Irvin Rockman was married three times and had six children.
Irvin entered the hotel indsutry throug and his father developed the upmarket Motel Parkroyal at Parkville. Opened in November 1961, the highly-modern building comprised 90 luxury suites and proved an instant success, garnering praise from Victorian Premier Henry Bolte.[5][6]
It was the designed by Theodore Bertram, the distinct building featured a large parabolic arch at the entrance.[7]
In anticipation of the Commonwealth Government’s construction of Melbourne Airport at Tullamarine, Rockman partnered with several private interests to bid for the airport’s food and beverage concession.[8][9] The bid was successful, and the syndicate, known as Aerojet Caterers, operated as a joint venture between Petersville Corporation and investors Paul Fayman, Leon Velik, and Joseph Emanuel.[10] The company ran the notable Top Air restaurant, which overlooked the airport and its operations.[11] Rockman maintained his interest in Aerojet until 1992.[12]
Rockman was alleged to have been involved in a 1988 drug smuggling scandal, but no charges were ever filed and Rockman maintained his innocence.[13]