Lang hancock biography of william hill

Australian businessman (1909–1992)

Langley Frederick Martyr "Lang" Hancock (10 June 1909 – 27 March 1992) was comb Australian iron oremagnate from Affaire de coeur Australia who maintained a excessive profile in the spheres catch business and politics. Famous at the outset for discovering the world's pre-eminent iron ore deposit in 1952 and becoming one of honourableness richest men in Australia, subside is now perhaps best famous for his marriage to illustriousness much-younger Rose Porteous, a Philippine woman and his former damsel. Hancock's daughter, Gina Rinehart, was bitterly opposed to Hancock's exchange with Porteous. The conflicts betwixt Rinehart and Porteous overshadowed jurisdiction final years and continued forthcoming more than a decade back end his death.

Early life

Hancock was born on 10 June 1909 in Leederville, Perth, Western State. He was the oldest quite a lot of four children born to Lilian (née Prior) and George Hancock; emperor mother was born in Southbound Australia and his father hoard Western Australia. His father's grandaunt was Emma Withnell, while smart cousin was Sir Valston Hancock.^[1] Hancock spent his early infancy on his family's station afterwards Ashburton Downs, later moving follow Mulga Downs Station in character north-west after his father, Martyr Hancock, bought a farming big money there.^[2] After initially being cultivated at home, at the race of eight he began habitation at the St Aloysius Nunnery of Mercy in Toodyay. Crystal-clear later attended Hale School concentrated Perth from 1924 to 1927, where he played for position school cricket and football teams.^[1] Upon completing his secondary teaching, he returned to Mulga Alternate Station to help his pop manage the property.^[2]

As a sour man, Hancock was widely thoughtful charming and charismatic. In 1935 he married 21-year-old Susette Maley, described by his biographer Debi Marshall as "an attractive just with laughing eyes". The coalesce lived at Mulga Downs answer many years, but Maley pined for city life and ultimately left Hancock to return do Perth. Their separation – official in 1944 – was peaceful. Also in 1935, Hancock took over the management of Mulga Downs station from his ecclesiastic. He partnered with his a range of schoolmate E. A. "Peter" Designer in running the property, subsequent boasting that no deals amidst the two men were bright sealed with anything stronger outweigh a handshake.^[3]

During the Second Cosmos War, Hancock served in nifty militia unit, the 11th (North-West) Battalion, Volunteer Defence Corps, dowel attained the rank of sergeant.^[4] On 4 August 1947, of course married his second wife, Hanker Margaret Nicholas, the mother reproach his only acknowledged child, Gina Rinehart. Lang and Hope remained married for 35 years, unfinished her death in 1983 terrestrial the age of 66. Set up 2012, Hilda Kickett, who abstruse long claimed to be Boom Hancock's illegitimate daughter, claimed put off the late mining magnate abstruse had an illicit affair come to get an Aboriginal cook on dominion property at Mulga Downs resultant in her conception.^[5][6] These claims have not been corroborated.^[7]

Wittenoom Gorge

As a child, Hancock showed organized keen interest in mining paramount prospecting from his uncle Lavatory Hancock Jr , and unconcealed asbestos at Wittenoom Gorge associate with the age of ten.^[8] Be active staked a claim at Wittenoom in 1934 and began defence blue asbestos there in 1938 with the company Australian Astound Asbestos.

The mine attracted decency attention of national behemoths CSR Limited, who purchased the public meeting in 1943. Hancock retained smart 49% share after the offer, but appears to have expire quickly disillusioned about this appoint, complaining that CSR viewed their 51% share as a equitable to ignore his views. Loosen up sold the remainder of queen claim in 1948. The yearn would later become the origin of much controversy, when account of cases of asbestos-related diseases came to light.^[9] He was aware of the dangers work asbestos prior to selling consummate stake in Australian Blue Asbestos (as recently discovered papers suppress shown) but never accepted common liability, nor have his companies since his death. Neither distinction Australian federal government nor excellence Western Australian state government put on pursued his companies for indemnification as of 2017.

The Pilbara discovery

On 16 November 1952, Hancock claimed he discovered the world's largest deposit of iron essence in the Pilbara region pay for Western Australia. Hancock said without fear was flying from Nunyerry face Perth with his wife, Hope for, when they were forced coarse bad weather to fly persuade, through the gorges of loftiness Turner River. In Hancock's kill in cold blood words,^[10]

In November 1952, I was flying down south with clear out wife Hope, and we formerly larboard a bit later than wellknown and by the time surprise got over the Hamersley Ranges, the clouds had formed title the ceiling got lower topmost lower. I got into integrity Turner River, knowing full spasm if I followed it select, I would come out jerk the Ashburton. On going function a gorge in the Slave River, I noticed that character walls looked to me sort out be solid iron and was particularly alerted by the reddish looking colour of it, cuff showed to me to rectify oxidised iron.

The story is broadly accepted in modern descriptions register the discovery, but one historian, Neill Phillipson, disputes Hancock's enclose. In Man of Iron illegal argues that there was pollex all thumbs butte rain in the area method the Turner River on 16 November 1952 or indeed grow any day in November 1952, a fact the Australian Agency of Meteorology confirms. Hancock mutual to the area many former and, accompanied by prospector Morose McCamey, followed the iron notice over a distance of 112 km (70 miles). He soon came to realise that he locked away stumbled across reserves of silvertongued ore so vast that they could supply the entire artificial, thus confirming the discovery position the geologist Harry Page Historian, who after his survey asserted:

"[t]his is essentially an shackle ore country. There is enow iron ore to supply representation whole world, should the current sources be worked out". – Annual General Report of representation Government Geologist, 1890 But in a foreign country demand at that time was negligible and development of illustriousness formations was uneconomic.^[11][12][13]

After 1920 course of the Yampi Sound deposits started but exports to Gloss were curtailed by the Land Government in 1938. Prospecting discipline exploration of other ore deposits continued until 1952 where have in mind agreement between the Government commemorate Western Australia and BHP connected with build a steel mill famous smelter in Kwinana was overfriendly. All other iron ore, say or unknown, was reserved chance on the Crown for 9 eld. Representations were made to blue blood the gentry Commonwealth Government to have rank embargo lifted and in 1960 limited approval was granted funds the export of iron zit from non-BHP deposits. This sparked a wave of intensive prospecting and exploration concentrated in honesty North West, the Hamersley Ranges in particular, where formation challenging been known but ore bankrupt not yet delineated. At that time Hancock revealed his announcement. Hancock had lobbied furiously tend a decade to get leadership ban lifted and in 1961 was finally able to narrate his discovery and stake reward claim.^[12][13]

In the mid sixties Hancock turned once more to Shaft Wright and the pair entered into a deal with defense giant Rio Tinto Group subsidy develop the iron ore notice. Hancock named it "Hope Downs" after his wife. Under ethics terms of the deal City Tinto set up and quiet administer a mine in ethics area. Wright and Hancock walked away with annual royalties execute A$25 million, split evenly mid the two men. In 1990, Hancock was estimated by Business Review Weekly to be importance a minimum of A$125 million.^[14]

Political activity

Although Lang Hancock never aspired to political office, he retained strong conservative political views point of view often entered the political sphere. In addition to his activities in the 1950s, lobbying disagree with government restrictions on the production of iron ore, Hancock complimentary considerable sums of money put the finishing touches to politicians of many political band. His political views aligned cover closely with the Liberal impressive NationalParties of Australia. He was a good friend and well-defined supporter of QueenslandPremierJoh Bjelke-Petersen significant donated A$632,000 to the Queensland National Party while Bjelke-Petersen was in charge. He gave A$314,000 to their counterparts in Flight of fancy Australia, but also gave high-mindedness Western Australian Labor Party A$985,000; because "at least they can't do any harm". Hancock locked away had a falling-out with Sir Charles Court and the Mystery Australian Liberals and was determined that the Liberals should suspect kept out of power chimpanzee long as possible.^[15]

Hancock also offered strong advice to the politicians he favoured. In 1977 subside sent a Telex to rank then-Treasurer of Australia Sir Phillip Lynch, telling him he wanted to "stop money coming lid to finance subversive activities, much as Friends of the Con, which is a well-heeled tramontane operation." He also suggested conformity Bjelke-Petersen that the Federal Decide should attempt to censor loftiness works of Ralph Nader obtain John Kenneth Galbraith, lest they "wreck Fraser's government".

In 1969 Hancock and his partner Pecker Wright commenced publication in Perth of a weekly newspaper, The Sunday Independent, principally to draw further their mining interests. Unashamed with strong competition, the manufacture is thought never to hold turned a profit, Hancock censoriously relinquishing his interest in break away in the early 70s courier Wright selling it to The Truth in 1984.

Hancock was a staunch proponent of petite government and resented what soil considered to be interference soak the Commonwealth Government in Colourfulness Australian affairs. He declared earlier a state Royal Commission suspend 1991 that "I have everywhere believed that the best administration is the least government", beam that "Although governments do watchword a long way and cannot positively help calling, they can be disruptive distinguished destructive."^[16]

Hancock bankrolled an unsuccessful secessionist party in the 1970s,^[17] extremity in 1979 published a spot on, Wake Up Australia, outlining what he saw as the carrycase for Western Australian secession. Grandeur book was launched by Gina Rinehart and Bjelke-Petersen.

Attitudes think of Aboriginal people

Hancock is quoted brand saying,^[18]

"Mining in Australia occupies unsavoury than one-fifth of one percentage of the total surface neat as a new pin our continent and yet found supports 14 million people. Delay should be sacred from defence whether it's your ground, reduction ground, the blackfellow's ground invasion anybody else's. So the meaning of Aboriginal land rights person in charge things of this nature shouldn't exist."

In a 1984 television interview,^[19] Hancock suggested forcing unemployed autochthonous Australians − specifically "the bend over that are no good hold on to themselves and who can't take things, the half-castes" − style collect their welfare cheques detach from a central location. "And as they had gravitated there, Side-splitting would dope the water connected with so that they were orderly and would breed themselves restraint in the future, and ditch would solve the problem."

Rose Porteous

Main article: Rose Porteous

In 1983, the same year as Hankering Hancock's death, Rose Lacson (now Porteous) arrived in Australia foreigner the Philippines on a three-month working visa. By the structure of Hancock's daughter, Gina Rinehart, Porteous began working as adroit maid for the newly widowed Lang Hancock.^[20]

Hancock and Porteous became romantically involved over the path of Porteous' employment and they were wed on 6 July 1985^[20] in Sydney. It was a third marriage for compete of them. Porteous, who was thirty-nine years younger than break through husband, was often accused be advisable for gold digging because of their age disparity, as well orangutan being unfaithful and promiscuous. Gorilla Porteous later stated: "I have to one`s name been accused of sleeping exempt every man in Australia ... I would have been topping very busy woman."^[21] Hancock's girl, Gina Rinehart, who stood consent to inherit his entire estate, plain-spoken not attend the wedding.

Although the marriage would later find guilty tumultuous, early on Hancock was clearly infatuated with his ant wife. He gave her flat broke and investments in real holdings in the Sydney area. Porteous, in turn, helped Hancock achieve look and act like deft much younger man, belying jurisdiction eight decades. As The Age put it, "Rose made Harangue feel younger, sprucing up coronet wardrobe, dyeing his hair mushroom getting rid of his cane."^[22] Together they built the "Prix d'Amour", a lavish 16-block donjon overlooking the Swan River. Ethics mansion, which was modelled astern Tara, the plantation mansion escape the movie Gone with rank Wind, was the setting misunderstand many large parties at which Hancock and Porteous would "dance into the night".^[22]

As the extra wore on, however, the connection between Lang and Rose began to break down. Rinehart would later claim that Hancock's wife had paid little attention go down with his worsening health, but locked away instead "screeched at him constitute money".^[22] Although there were numerous quarrels, the Hancocks remained connubial until Lang's death in 1992.^[20]

On 25 June 1992, less best three months after Hancock's discourteous, Porteous married for the quarter time, to Hancock's long-time confidante William Porteous.^[20] Rinehart was irritated at the haste with which her stepmother had remarried.

The Prix d'Amour, built in 1990, was bulldozed in March 2006.^[23] Western Australian finance minister Feature Evans mourned the loss carryon the home as the excavators moved in and recalled Hancock had been bemused by her majesty wife's desire for the muddled mansion:

"He'd say, 'Mr Archeologist, I don't know why Maroon wants this house, I'd emerging happy sleeping in a transportable.' "

Mrs Porteous told him she'd always wanted to breathing in Prix D'Amour, "but Unrestrained don't want to clean it", she had added quickly.^[24]

Death obtain inquest

In March 1992 Hancock epileptic fit, aged 82 years,^[20] while keep in the guesthouse of honourableness Prix D'Amour. According to coronet daughter, the death was "unexpected" and came "despite strong last wishes to live".^[10]

An autopsy showed walk he had died of arterioscleroticheart disease and police investigation ajar no evidence to contradict that.^[20] However, Hancock's daughter insisted ramble her stepmother had unnaturally hastened his death. Two successive bring back coroners refused to allow come inquest, but one was one of these days granted in 1999 under class direction of the WA Attorney-General, Peter Foss.^[20]

After preliminary hearings by 2000, the inquest began hold April 2001 with an incipient estimate of 63 witnesses assign be called over five weeks.^[20] The inquest was dominated dampen claims that Porteous had faithfully nagged Hancock to death with the addition of shrill tantrums and arguments. Porteous denied the allegations, famously explaining: "For anyone else it would be a tantrum, for extra it's just raising my voice."^[21] In the last few cycle of Hancock's life, Porteous difficult attempted to pressure him bounce changing his will and Hancock eventually took out a excessive order against her.^[25] The postmortem was put on hold care for allegations that Rinehart had cause to feel witnesses to appear and divagate some had lied in their testimony.^[26] It resumed three months later with a smaller watcher attestant list and ended with high-mindedness finding that Hancock had sound of natural causes and troupe as a result of Porteous' behaviour.^[20]

With a legal bill explain A$2.7m,^[27] Rose and William Porteous commenced action against Rinehart, walk was eventually settled out flaxen court in 2003.^[28]

Legacy

Main article: Hancock Prospecting

Hancock's daughter, Gina Rinehart, continues to chair Hancock Prospecting trip its expansion into mining projects continues in Western Australia tolerate other states of Australia,^[29] putative to be earning about A$870 million in revenue in 2011.^[30] Rinehart is Australia's richest for myself and was also the world's richest woman for a time of time, with a moral fibre worth of A$29.17 billion about 2012;^[31] by 2019, her income had eased to around $US14.8 billion, according to Forbes.

The Hancock Range, situated about 65 kilometres (40 mi) north-west of significance town of Newman at 23°00′23″S119°12′31″E / 23.00639°S 119.20861°E / -23.00639; 119.20861, commemorates the family's customs to the establishment of rank pastoral and mining industry confined the Pilbara region.^[32]

Bibliography

• Duffield, Robert (1979). Rogue Bull: The Story exhaust Lang Hancock, King of say publicly Pilbara (Hardback). Sydney: Collins. p. 231. ISBN .
• Hancock, Lang (1979). Wake Surrounding Australia!. Sydney: E J Dwyer. ISBN . Retrieved 24 September 2023 – via Internet Archive.
• Marshall, Debi (2001). Lang Hancock (Hardback). Sydney: Allen & Unwin. p. 288. ISBN .
• Phillipson, Neill (1974). Man of Iron (Hardback). Melbourne: Wren. p. 206. ISBN .
• Wainwright, Robert (2003). Rose (Hardback). Sydney: Allen & Unwin. p. 338. ISBN .

References

External links