Alan Bond’s former wife Eileen Bond dies of heart complications

The colourful socialite ex-wife of one of Australia’s most controversial business tycoons has tragically died.

The irrepressible and incomparable Eileen “Red” Bond has died.

The former wife of West Australian entrepreneur Alan Bond, one of the nation’s most loved socialites, is said to have passed away after suffering a stroke, her second, in a short period.

Bond had been living between homes in Perth and Sydney at the time but died in Perth on Wednesday night.

Her age was a national secret but on Thursday her family confirmed she was 87.

Dubbed “Red” for her famous flame hair, Bond was born Eileen Teresa Hughes in Fremantle, WA, the daughter of a wealthy Irish Catholic family who were the pillars of the church in Fremantle.

Eileen “Red” Bond, Alan Bond’s first wife, has died. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Her father William was a Perth wool buyer who played football for South Fremantle and became Commissioner of the Fremantle Port Authority.

As a teenager she would be swept off her feet by a smitten Alan Bond who she met at a dancing class in 1954 at age 16.

By 17 she was pregnant and married.

Bond would convert from Church of England to Catholicism for the ceremony.

“My family insisted, but Alan didn’t mind, he was very happy to convert …” she would say years later.

She and Bond would welcome four children during their marriage: John, Craig, Susanne and Jody.

Outside of her family – and her Catholic faith – the famously high-spirited “Red” loved to travel, party and decorate houses.

She once said she never did anything in moderation.

Australian entrepreneur Alan Bond (top) and his skipper John Bertrand on Australia II before the race around the Isle of Wight for the America's Cup Jubilee in 1983. Picture: Chris Iso

Eileen Bond at former husband Alan Bond's public funeral.

Socialites and social scribes from the nation’s west to east coasts loved her for it.

“You have to have either self control or moderation and I certainly haven’t the latter,” she once said.

“I can never do anything in moderation. I’ll eat and eat then suddenly stop and have next to nothing for eight days in a row.”

It was a trait she shared with her husband, a sign-writer who would go on to prosper in property development, later founding the company Bond Corp which also had interests in brewing (Toohey’s), and media (Nine), before his name would be writ large in Australian corporate criminal history after he went bankrupt in 1992 with debts totalling $1.8 billion.

He was later sentenced to jail for seven years.

In the decades prior, Bond had become one of the nation’s most famous businessmen whose backing of Australia II to victory in the 1983 America’s Cup made him a household name.

Through it all his faithful wife had been at his side.

The Bond family confirmed on Thursday Eileen Bond was 87-year-old.

She was devastated when the couple’s marriage ended as rumours circulated that her much-travelled husband was having an affair with the woman who would become his second wife, Diana Bliss.

Bond University Vice Chancellor and President Professor Tim Brailsford paid tribute Ms Bond saying: “Red was a great friend and fierce supporter of the University since its establishment”.

“The University extends its deepest sympathies and most heartfelt condolences to the Bond family and Eileen’s many, many friends,” Prof Brailsford said.

“She was a regular visitor to campus and attended many events, always bringing her own style and grace.

“The room was always brighter once Red had entered, and her cheeky sense of humour entertained many a crowd,” he said.

“The many students, alumni and staff who had the good fortune to meet Eileen will be deeply saddened by her sudden passing but forever grateful for the positive impact and joyous memories that she left with them.

“Our thoughts are with John, Craig and Jody, their spouses and Eileen’s grandchildren.”

Originally published as Alan Bond’s former wife Eileen Bond dies of heart complications