Wyllie’s passing a loss for WA

Tributes have flowed in from business and the community leaders following the death earlier this week of 73-year-old Perth property tycoon Bill Wyllie after a long battle with cancer.

The chairman of the Perth-based investment company, the Wyllie Group Pty Ltd, died at home with his wife Rhonda and children Melissa and Luke at his bedside. Melissa took the operational reins of the business during the past year or so.

Mr Wyllie’s funeral will be held at 3.30pm on Sunday at Christ Church Grammar School.

With an investment strategy focused largely on property-linked Western Australian assets, Mr Wyllie was listed in the BRW Rich 200 list in 2004 with a net worth of $423 million.

His wealth was derived from almost three decades as an ex-patriate corporate doctor in South East Asia, turning around big conglomerates so successfully he earned the title taipan.

In 1943, Mr Wyllie began his working life by delivering telegrams for the Scarborough post office, which he soon combined with a paper round.

In the 1950s he raced motor cars on the South-East Asia circuit including the Macau Grand Prix in 1958.

In 1964, Mr Wyllie moved to Hong Kong where he became a leading business man, investing throughout the region, including Australia, up until his return to Perth in 1994.

In WA, Wyllie Group has been involved in some high profile investments, including major stakes in Burswood Ltd, the convention centre and Multiplex.

Premier Alan Carpenter expressed sorrow at his passing.

Mr Carpenter said Mr Wyllie made a significant contribution to Western Australia through his business and philanthropic interests.

“Mr Wyllie’s business acumen was highly regarded but his generous commitment to local charities and medical research organisations was equally important,” he said.

“Mr Wyllie’s death is a sad loss for our state.”

Lions Eye Institute managing director Ian Constable said he regarded Mr Wyllie as a friend and mentor. “Bill was extraordinarily committed to the Institute – he was one of our senior patrons,” Professor Constable said.

“He was a very successful businessman but he was also a very dedicated friend of the institute and other charities.

“The institute will always be grateful for his generosity and help.”