Win Schubert | |
---|---|
Born | 1938[1] |
Died | 6 April 2017 (aged 79)[2] Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia |
Occupation | businesswoman |
Known for | being a philanthropist in the Queensland arts community |
Winifred Schubert AO (1938 – 6 April 2017) was an Australian businesswoman and philanthropist.[3]
She is best known for making expensive contributions to art galleries particularly to the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA).[3][4]
In the 1970s Schubert owned an empire of 32 fashion boutiques in South East Queensland including in Toowoomba, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.[2]
In 1985, she established Art Galleries Schubert on the Gold Coast which closed in 2009.[1]
In 2012, QAGOMA named some of its galleries the Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Galleries in honour of Schubert's benefaction.[5] Ulrick was a close friend of Schuberts and was curator and co-director at Art Galleries Schubert until her death in 1997.[6]
In 2014, Schubert was named as a Queensland Great.[7] She was also made an Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2014 Queen's Birthday Honours in recognition of her service to the community as a supporter and benefactor of Australian artists and art galleries.[8]
In 2020, the Schubert Circle was established at QAGOMA to recognise other individuals who have made provisions for QAGOMA to be in their will.[5]
For over 40 years, Schubert was in a long-term de facto relationship with Agnes Tatay who died in 2015.[2][9]
Schubert died on 6 April 2017 at the age of 89 following a stroke.[3][2] Following her death, Schubert's stepdaughter Suzzen Tatay contested Schubert's will arguing she was entitled to some of Schubert's $30 million estate.[2]
Three years after Schubert's death, QAGOMA received a $35 million bequest from her estate which was the biggest single cash gift in the 125-year history of the gallery.[10][11]