The National Gallery of Victoria’s foyer rang out with bagpipes on Wednesday, as tartan-capped security guards ushered a select smattering of billionaires and business figures past curious and bewildered tourists and into the Great Hall for a celebration of Lindsay Fox.

The trucking tycoon turned 86 on Wednesday. And marked the day as extravagantly as any self-respecting billionaire could be expected to, with a private lunch at the Melbourne institution he donated $100 million to last year.