Janet Holmes à Court
Encyclopedia
Janet Holmes à Court, AC
, HFAIB (born Janet Lee Ranford on 29 November, 1943 in Perth
, Western Australia
) is an Australia
n businesswoman, and one of Australia's wealthiest women. She is the Chairman 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
in 1990. She retained full ownership of the Heytesbury Group of companies until 2008 when her son, Paul Holmes à Court, assumed ownership, while she remained Chairman.
She attended the University of Western Australia
, majoring in organic chemistry. After graduation, she worked as a science teacher before marrying Holmes à Court 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 organizations.
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 station
s in remote Western Australia and has interests in vineyards, wine-making and engineering contracting.
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
at the 1998 constitutional convention, and is the chairperson of the Australian Children's Television Foundation
and the West Australian Symphony Orchestra
. She has also served on the board of the Reserve Bank of Australia
and is an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Institute of Building
.
She was made an Officer in the Order of Australia
(AO), in 1995 and promoted to a Companion of the Order (AC) on Australia Day
2007. The National Trust of Australia
has included her on its list of 100 Australian Living Treasures
.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, HFAIB (born Janet Lee Ranford on 29 November, 1943 in Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
) is an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n businesswoman, and one of Australia's wealthiest women. She is the Chairman of one of Australia's largest private companies, Heytesbury Pty Ltd
Heytesbury Pty Ltd
Heytesbury Pty. Ltd. is the privately owned company of the Holmes à Court family in Western Australia.Originally called Heytesbury Holdings, the company was formed by Robert Holmes à Court in the 1970s as the holding company of his rapidly expanding financial empire...
, having turned around its fortunes after the death of her husband Robert Holmes à Court
Robert Holmes à Court
Michael Robert Hamilton Holmes à Court was an entrepreneur who became Australia's first businessman worth over a billion dollars before dying suddenly of a heart attack in 1990.Holmes à Court was one of the world's most feared corporate raiders through the 1980s, having built his empire...
in 1990. She retained full ownership of the Heytesbury Group of companies until 2008 when her son, Paul Holmes à Court, assumed ownership, while she remained Chairman.
She attended the University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
, majoring in organic chemistry. After graduation, she worked as a science teacher before marrying Holmes à Court 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 organizations.
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 station
Cattle station
Cattle station is an Australian term for a large farm , whose main activity is the rearing of cattle. In Australia, the owner of a cattle station is called a grazier...
s in remote Western Australia and has interests in vineyards, wine-making and engineering contracting.
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
Australian Republican Movement
The Australian Republican Movement is a non-partisan lobby group advocating constitutional change in Australia to a republican form of government, from a constitutional monarchy.-Foundation:...
at the 1998 constitutional convention, and is the chairperson of the Australian Children's Television Foundation
Australian Children's Television Foundation
The Australian Children's Television Foundation is a non-profit, government-funded organisation in Australia concerned with the development, production, dissemination and promotion of children's television and other audio-visual material for children....
and the West Australian Symphony Orchestra
West Australian Symphony Orchestra
The West Australian Symphony Orchestra , often known as the "Orchestra of the West", is the premier professional orchestra of the state of Western Australia.-History:...
. She has also served on the board of the Reserve Bank of Australia
Reserve Bank of Australia
The Reserve Bank of Australia came into being on 14 January 1960 as Australia's central bank and banknote issuing authority, when the Reserve Bank Act 1959 removed the central banking functions from the Commonwealth Bank to it....
and is an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Institute of Building
Australian Institute of Building
The Australian Institute of Building is a professional society founded in 1951, incorporated in 1955 and granted a Royal Charter in 1969. It has chapter offices in Hong Kong and Singapore and had a chapter office in New Zealand until the formation of the New Zealand Institute of Building in...
.
She was made an Officer in the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(AO), in 1995 and promoted to a Companion of the Order (AC) on Australia Day
Australia Day
Australia Day is the official national day of Australia...
2007. The National Trust of Australia
National Trust of Australia
The Australian Council of National Trusts is the peak body for community-based, non-government organisations committed to promoting and conserving Australia's indigenous, natural and historic heritage....
has included her on its list of 100 Australian Living Treasures
Australian Living Treasures
Australian Living Treasures are people who have been nominated by the National Trust of Australia. The first list of 100 Living Treasures was published in 1997....
.