Mary Fairfax

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For Scottish scientist, see Mary Somerville.

Mary Fairfax

OBE
Born
Marie Wein

(1922-08-15)15 August 1922
Warsaw, Poland
Died17 September 2017(2017-09-17) (aged 95)
Double Bay, New South Wales, Australia
NationalityPolish-born Australian
Other namesLady Fairfax
CitizenshipAustralian
EducationPresbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney
Occupation(s)Businesswoman, philanthropist
Known for
  • Wife of Sir Warwick Fairfax
  • Australian philanthropy
Spouses
Cedric Symonds
​
(m. 1945⁠–⁠1958)​
​
​
(m. 1959⁠–⁠1987)​
Children
  • Garth Symonds
  • Companion of the Order of Australia
    (AC) in 2005

Mary Elizabeth Fairfax,

OBE (formerly Symonds, born Marie Wein; 15 August 1922 – 17 September 2017)[2][3] was a Polish-born Australian businesswoman and philanthropist. As the third wife of wealthy media proprietor Sir Warwick Fairfax, she became known as Lady Fairfax upon his knighthood in 1967. She inherited most of his vast fortune upon his death in January 1987, becoming one of Australia's richest women.[4]

Biography

Marie Wein was born into a Jewish family in

Catholicism before the wedding. They had three children: Warwick Jr., Anna and Charles.[1][6]

After the death of her husband Sir Warwick in 1987, Fairfax continued to live in the family home,

Mohamed al-Fayed.[9]

Lady Fairfax died of natural causes at her family home on 17 September 2017.[10]

Fairwater, Double Bay home of Lady Mary Fairfax, until her 2017 death.

Honours, wealth and philanthropy

In recognition of her service to the community, Fairfax was appointed an

Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 2005,[13] for "service to the community of wide ranging social and economic benefit through support and philanthropy for ongoing medical research initiatives, improved health care opportunities, nurturing artistic talent in young performers, and preservation of diverse cultural heritage".[14]

Fairfax's personal wealth in 2012 was estimated by the BRW at A$418 million.[15] Her assets include the residential land development, Harrington Park, near Camden, New South Wales. Harrington Park was the name of the cattle property once owned by Sir Warwick and Lady Fairfax.[16]

Lady Fairfax was a chairman, founder and president of the Friends of

Australian Opera Foundation during the 1970s.[17] Her philanthropy includes gifts of A$750,000 to St Vincent's Foundation and A$250,000 to the Garvan Foundation in 2002 on the occasion of her eightieth birthday.[18]

References

  1. ^
    Sydney Morning Herald
    . 18 September 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  2. ^ "Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney". New South Wales. School Choice. Archived from the original on 30 August 2007. Retrieved 1 August 2007.
  3. ^ Pearce, Suzannah, ed. (17 November 2006). "FAIRFAX (Mary), Lady". Who's Who in Australia Live!. North Melbourne, Vic: Crown Content Pty Ltd.
  4. Sydney Morning Herald
    15 August 2002 accessed 16 May 2012
  5. ^
    Sydney Morning Herald
    . 18 September 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  6. The Daily Telegraph
    . 18 September 2017.
  7. ^ "Fairwater - Full Lep Listing - Description In Further Comments". State Heritage Register. Government of New South Wales. 1999. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  8. New York Times
    . 3 December 2006. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  9. ^ Anderson, Anna (10 April 2013). "Lady Fairfax's New York penthouse shoots for record". Domain. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  10. ^ "Subscribe | theaustralian". The Australian. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  11. ^ "The Order of the British Empire - Officer (Civil) (OBE(C)) entry for Fairfax, Mary". Australian Honours Database. Canberra, Australia: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 26 September 2017. In recognition of service to the community
  12. ^ "Member of the Order of Australia (AM) entry for Fairfax, Mary". Australian Honours Database. Canberra, Australia: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 26 September 2017. In recognition of service to the community
  13. ^ Barden, David (18 September 2017). "Lady Mary Fairfax Dies Aged 95". Huffington Post. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  14. ^ "Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) entry for Fairfax, Mary". Australian Honours Database. Canberra, Australia: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 27 September 2017. For service to the community of wide ranging social and economic benefit through support and philanthropy for ongoing medical research initiatives, improved health care opportunities, nurturing artistic talent in young performers, and preservation of diverse cultural heritage.
  15. ^ Sadauskas, Andrew (13 May 2012). "The world's richest mothers". smartcompany.com.au. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  16. ISBN 978-0-207-17669-2
  17. ^ Lady Mary Fairfax (18 October 1973). "An interview with Lady Mary Fairfax (1973)". Splash (Interview: audio/transcript). Interviewed by unnamed interviewer. Radio National. Retrieved 24 March 2016. {{cite interview}}: |interviewer= has generic name (help)
  18. Sydney Morning Herald
    . Retrieved 24 March 2016.
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