Widow of acclaimed bush artist Arthur Hamblin sues for bigger share of estate

The widow of an acclaimed Gold Coast artist is suing for a bigger slice of the man’s estate, saying she is now forced to live in ‘extreme poverty’.

The elderly widow of an acclaimed Queensland artist is suing her stepchildren for a bigger slice of his million dollar estate, claiming they kicked her out of the marital home and she had been forced to live in ‘extreme poverty’.

Arthur Hamblin, described as the “father of Australian outback art”, died last year on the Gold Coast of pancreatic cancer, aged 86.

He left the bulk of his estate, including hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of paintings, to his two adult children, Garry Hamblin, 62, and Sheryl Irwin, 61.

Arthur and June Hamblin were married in 2007. Picture: Anastassia Perets/Central and North Burnett Times

Mr Hamblin bequeathed 79-year-old wife, June, 10 per cent of the net proceeds of the sale of the home they lived in at Highland Park.

In an estate dispute claim filed in Southport District Court this month, Mrs Hamblin says she was not adequately provided for in the will.

She alleges that Garry and Sheryl, who were appointed executors of their father’s estate, asked her to vacate the Highland Park home after his death but did not provide her with any money to move.

Mrs Hamblin claims she was “left with almost nothing to live on” and lived in “extreme poverty” for six months after her husband’s death before finally getting a full pension.

She says her own home at Southport is falling apart, she has to buy her clothes from the op-shop and relies on “charitable friends” to pay for fuel for her $500, 21-year-old Hyundai Lantra.

“I live from week to week,” she states in her claim.

“I own nothing else apart from some household furniture and chattels.”

Mrs Hamblin says she and Mr Hamblin, whom she met at a Gold Coast church and married in 2007, enjoyed “a very close, honest, loving and trusting relationship” up until his death.

She says they travelled extensively throughout Australia and overseas, dined out often and loved to sit on the beach at Burleigh Heads, eating fish and chips.

Arthur Hamblin with his work at the Mulgildie Hotel. Picture: Nastassia Perets/ Central and North Burnett Times

Mrs Hamblin says she contributed significantly to the marriage, both financially and by doing household and gardening chores tending to her husband’s ‘array of walk-in aviaries’, hanging “extensive” Christmas lighting, mowing, weeding and pressure cleaning the driveway.

She says she cared for Mr Hamblin during health battles including a heart bypass and prostate cancer.

He was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer in 2019 and Mrs Hamblin says she became his full-time carer as his health deteriorated, providing him “with all of the assistance that would be expected of a dutiful wife”.

“I was not able to do anything for myself for many months as my life was devoted to caring for Arthur on a full-time basis,” she states in her claim.

Mrs Hamblin her house at Southport is “dilapidated” and “in urgent need of repairs” for problems including cracks, rotting and mould, while her household appliances are up to 40 years old.

“Arthur was aware that I had no savings and that the home I own in Southport is in need of repairs,” she states.

She says she suffers from a range of health issues including bowel cancer, skin cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, and osteoarthritis.

Mrs Hamblin says she receives the full age pension of $472.15 a week as well as $120 in board from her son but relies on op-shops, the “goodwill” of doctors and “charitable friends” to make ends meet.

The retired legal secretary says she has no money for going to the cinema, club memberships, day trips, dining out, takeaway meals, public transport or interstate family visits.

“I am 79 and retired … I am not capable of working or bettering myself,” she states.

Mrs Hamblin’s claim states that her husband’s estate includes the Highland Park home worth $550,000, $395,000 worth of art works and $10,000 of furniture.

Garry Hamblin and Sheryl Irwin are yet to respond to the claim.