Janet Holmes à Court, AC, HonFAHA, HonFAIB (born Janet Lee Ranford on 29 November 1943 in

Perth Perth () is the list of Australian capital cities, capital city of Western Australia. It is the list of cities in Australia by population, fourth-most-populous city in Australia, with a population of over 2.3 million within Greater Perth . The ...

, Western Australia) is an Australian businesswoman and philanthropist. She was the Chairperson of one of Australia's largest private companies, Heytesbury Pty Ltd, having turned around its fortunes after the death of her husband

Robert Holmes à Court Michael Robert Hamilton Holmes à Court (27 July 1937 – 2 September 1990) was a South African-born Australian businessman who became Australia's first billionaire, before dying suddenly of heart failure in 1990 at the age of 53. A great-gre ...

in 1990. She retained full ownership of the Heytesbury Group of companies until 2008 when her son, Paul Holmes à Court, assumed ownership.

Life and career

Holmes à Court attended Perth Modern School and the

University of Western Australia University of Western Australia (UWA) is a public research university in the Australian state of Western Australia. The university's main campus is in Crawley, Western Australia, Crawley, a suburb in the City of Perth local government area. UW ...

, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in organic chemistry and a Diploma of Education in 1965. After graduation, she worked as a science teacher before marrying her husband in 1966 and having four children with him. She currently lives in Perth. As her children left home, she developed interests in medical research, the arts and various charitable organisations. After the death of her husband, she took over management of Heytesbury Pty Ltd, which was considerably in debt, rescuing and expanding it. The company operates cattle stations in remote Western Australia and has interests in vineyards, wine-making and engineering contracting. She owns the Holmes à Court Gallery with locations at Vasse Felix winery at Cowaramup, near

Margaret River The Margaret River is a river in southwest Australia, southwest Western Australia. In a small catchment, it is the eponym of the town and tourist region of Margaret River, Western Australia, Margaret River. The river arises from a catchment ...

, in

Western Australia Western Australia (WA) is the westernmost state of Australia. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east, and South Australia to the south-east. Western Aust ...

and in West Perth, displaying works from the Janet Holmes à Court Collection as well as other exhibitions in both venues. As well as her business activities, Holmes à Court has been an active participant in progressive social issues, such as an advocate for the

Australian Republican Movement The Australian Republic Movement (ARM) is a Nonpartisanism, non-partisan organisation campaigning for Australia to become a republic. The ARM and its supporters have promoted various models, including a parliamentary republic, and the organisa ...

at the 1998 constitutional convention, the Patron of Private Giving at the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, chair of the

Art Gallery of Western Australia The Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA) is a public art gallery that is part of the Perth Cultural Centre, in Perth. It is located near the Western Australian Museum and State Library of Western Australia and is supported and managed by the ...

and deputy chairperson of the Chamber of Arts and Culture WA. From 1986 to 2022, she was the chair of the Australian Children's Television Foundation. She has also served on the board of the

Reserve Bank of Australia The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is Australia's central bank and banknote issuing authority. It has had this role since 14 January 1960, when the ''Reserve Bank Act 1959'' removed the central banking functions from the Commonwealth Bank. Th ...

and is an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Institute of Building. She was Pro-Chancellor of the University of Western Australia from 1990 to 1994, and a Senate member of both

Murdoch University Murdoch University is a public university in Perth, Western Australia, with campuses also in Singapore and Dubai. It began operations as the state's second university on 25 July 1973, and accepted its first undergraduate students in 1975. Its ...

and the University of Western Australia. In April 2018, Holmes à Court married businessman Gilbert George.

Honours and awards

She was appointed Officer of the

Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an Australian honours and awards system, Australian honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Monarch ...

(AO) in 1995 and promoted to a Companion of the Order (AC) on

Australia Day Australia Day is the official national day of Australia. Observed annually on 26 January, it marks the 1788 landing of the First Fleet and raising of the Flag of Great Britain, Union Flag of Great Britain by Arthur Phillip at Sydney Cove, a ...

2007 for service to business, particularly as a leader in the construction, wine and cattle industries, to the advancement of Western Australia's musical and theatre culture, to the visual arts, and to the community. In 2001, she was awarded the

Centenary Medal The Centenary Medal is an award which was created by the Australian Government in 2001. It was established to commemorate the centenary of the Federation of Australia and to recognise "people who made a contribution to Australian society or g ...

for her service to the arts as Chair of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and Black Swan Theatre Company. The

National Trust of Australia The National Trust of Australia, officially the Australian Council of National Trusts (ACNT), is the Australian national peak body for community-based, non-government non-profit organisations committed to promoting and conserving Australia's Ind ...

has included her on its list of 100

Australian Living Treasures National Living Treasure is a status created and occasionally updated by the National Trust of Australia's New South Wales branch, awarded to up to 100 living people. Recipients were selected by popular vote for having made outstanding contributi ...

. Her other honours and awards include: * United Kingdom Veuve Clicquot Business Woman of the Year, 1995 * Institute of Engineers Medal, The Institute of Engineers Australia, 1997 * Inducted into the Leading Business Entrepreneurs of the World (USA), 1997 * International Business Council of Western Australia Business Award, 1998 * Victorian Honour Roll of Women, 2001 * AbaF Richard Pratt Business Leadership Award, 2003 * Lifetime Commitment Award, WA State Arts Sponsorship Scheme Awards, 2003 * Champion Award for the Year of the Built Environment (Western Australia), State Steering Committee, 2004 * WA Gold Medal Award,

Australian Institute of Company Directors The Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) is a non-profit membership organization for directors. The AICD is a founding member of the Global Network of Director Institutes (GNDI). History The origins of the AICD can be traced ba ...

, 2007 * Companion of Engineers Australia, The Institute of Engineers Australia, 2007 * United Way Philanthropist of the Year Award, 2008 * The Woodrow Wilson Corporate Citizenship Award, 2009 * Inducted into the International Women's Day WA Women's Hall of Fame, 2011 * Elected Honorary Fellow of the

Australian Academy of the Humanities The Australian Academy of the Humanities was established by Royal Charter in 1969 to advance scholarship and public interest in the humanities in Australia. It operates as an independent not-for-profit organisation partly funded by the Australi ...

, 2011 * Australian Achievement in Architecture National President's Prize, 2011 * Champion of Entrepreneurship Award, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, 2012 * John Shaw Medal, 2014 She holds a number of honorary doctorates including: * Doctor of the University,

Central Queensland University Central Queensland University (branded as CQUniversity) is an Australian public university based in central Queensland. CQUniversity is the only Australian university with a campus presence in every mainland state. Its main campus is at Norman ...

, 1994 * Doctor of the University,

, 1997 * Doctor of Letters,

, 1997 * Doctor of Business, University of Ballarat, 2007 * Doctor of Business,

Charles Sturt University Charles Sturt University is an Australian multi-campus public university located in New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Victoria, Australia, Victoria. Established in 1989, it was named in honour of Captain (British Army and Royal ...

, 2008 * Doctor of Arts,

Edith Cowan University Edith Cowan University (ECU) is a public research university in Western Australia. It is named in honour of the first woman to be elected to an Parliaments of the Australian states and territories, Australian parliament, Edith Cowan, and is, , t ...

, 2011

References

;Notes *Edgar, Patricia (1999). ''Janet Holmes à Court''. Australia. Harper Collins. ''The official biography''

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Holmes A Court, Janet 1943 births Living people University of Western Australia alumni Australian art collectors Australian republicans Companions of the Order of Australia Delegates to the Australian Constitutional Convention 1998

Janet Janet may refer to: Names * Janet (given name) Surname * Charles Janet (1849–1932), French engineer, inventor and biologist, known for the Left Step periodic table * Jules Janet (1861–1945), French psychologist and psychotherapist * Maur ...

People educated at Perth Modern School Businesspeople from Perth, Western Australia 21st-century Australian businesswomen 21st-century Australian businesspeople