Australian migrant businesswoman success extends to auction art collection

The number of pre and post-World War II European migrants who have built a successful life in Australia could probably fill a book of Who’s Who.

Among them is Sydney businesswoman the late Millie Phillips who with her Jewish family in 1938, aged nine, fled Poland and Nazi persecution to emigrate to Sydney.

Like many of her fellow migrants, Millie displayed an indomitable spirit helping her to overcome many near insurmountable challenges, including the loss in 1978 of her eldest daughter Lynette in a very tragic and public death.

Millie’s business acumen was unsurpassed, becoming the first woman in Australia to float and chair public companies including International Mining Corporation and Milstern Healthcare – after initially building her expertise as a young woman with British naval officer husband Harold through the establishment of a 24-bed nursing home in North Ryde.

At the height of her fame on the back of the 1969 nickel mining boom, the Australian media branded her “Mining Millie” and “the Nickel Queen”, lionising her as the epitome of a “Woman in a Man’s World”.

Amassing a huge fortune, Millie’s generosity knew no bounds and she avidly supported the construction of educational and medical facilities, houses of worship and other community buildings in both Australia and Israel – with the benevolent work and donations to the tune of $100 million continuing posthumously.

At the same time, she was a huge collector of Australian art and her collection will be auctioned by Menzies Sydney office from 6.30am Wednesday November 23 at 12 Todman Avenue, Kensington.

Millie’s collecting interests covered still-life, portraiture and landscape paintings and include works by many of Australia’s leading artists such as Sidney Nolan’s Kelly and Rifle 1980 (lot 16) which has a catalogue estimate of $400,000-$600,000.

She also admired Arthur Boyd and Hillside with Rocks, Shoalhaven (lot 11) and Bride over Shoalhaven (lot 3) are typical of his genre.

The centrepiece of Millie’s collection is Lloyd Rees’ shimmering panorama Sydney – The Source 1973 (lot 17) with a catalogue estimate of $500,000-$700,000.

Menzies head of art Brett Ballard believes there is no more definitive painting by Rees and none in the Phillips collection that so aptly summarises her taste.

Other collection highlights include Margaret Preston’s Native Flowers and Geebungs 1938 (lot 14), Jeffrey Smart’s Study I for Bus Terminus 1972-73 (lot 15) and Fred Williams Werribee Gorge (10) 1977-78 (lot 18).

The remainder of the Important Australian & International art auction starts with a collection of Sydney modern artists – including works by Thea Proctor, Herbert Badham, Alison Rehfisch and Grace Cossington Smith.

Robert Indiana’s Hope (Red/Blue/Green) 2009 (lot 72) is the sale’s international highlight – a vital and timely reimagining of the Love sculptures that placed him at the forefront of the pop art movement.

Another significant international sculpture is Lynn Chadwick’s bronze figure pair entitled Maquette II Diamond 1984 (lot 73).

Australian modernism is the auction crux with Justin O’Brien’s Madonna with Two Donors 1990 (lot 68), Jeffrey Smart’s Ticket Boxes, Catania 1964 (lot 71) and Albert Tucker’s The Gamblers 1973 (lot 75) all playing an important part.

Another major addition is Sidney Nolan’s Mrs Skillion Putting her Fingers to her Nose c1947 (lot 67) – a rare and important work from his first Ned Kelly series which has not been seen at auction for 30 years.

An exciting group of contemporary paintings is led by Lin Onus’s The Joy of Fish – In Waiting 1994 (lot 81), one of a trio of works depicting a recumbent, floating nude.

 

Melbourne Viewing:

10am-5pm

Thursday November 10 to Sunday November 13 (from 1pm Sunday)

1 Darling Street, South Yarra

 

Sydney Viewing:

10am-5pm

Thursday November 17 to Tuesday November 22 (from 1pm Sunday)

12 Todman Avenue, Kensington