Qld businesswoman Betty Byrne Henderson dies, aged 93

Pioneering Queensland businesswoman turned philanthropist Betty Byrne Henderson has died, aged 93.

Queensland businesswoman Betty Byrne Henderson. Picture: Russell Shakespeare

Pioneering Queensland businesswoman Betty Byrne Henderson has died, aged 93.

She set up the Byrne Ford car dealership in Brisbane in 1969 with husband Bernie Byrne and took over from him in 1977 when he passed away.

At the time it was highly unusual for a woman to head a major company and she battled entrenched sexism to turn the dealership into one of the best in the country.

Under her stewardship, the business grew from 35 staff to more than 140 and was the first in Australia to secure quality assurance accreditation.

She handed over the reins to son Peter Byrne in 1995 but retirement was the last thing on her mind.

Betty Byrne Henderson (right) with former Qld premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen and former Brisbane mayor Sallyanne Atkinson.

She had already established herself as a major philanthropist after gifting a large sum to the Queensland University of Technology in 1987 for research, scholarships and refurbishment of Old Government House in QUT’s grounds in the CBD.

She funded mammography buses to help rural women and a women’s health centre at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital is named after her.

Ms Byrne Henderson turned her hand to politics in 1989, running for the National Party in the inner-city state seat of Merthyr after the resignation of disgraced Fitzgerald Inquiry figure Don Lane.

She came third due to a massive backlash against corruption that had thrived under the then National Party government.

She was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1995 for her services to women’s health and the community.

Acting Mayor Fiona Cunningham paid tribute to Ms Byrne Henderson’s contributions during an address to Brisbane City Council’s weekly meeting on Tuesday.

Originally published as Qld businesswoman Betty Byrne Henderson dies, aged 93