SA Museum donor Antony Simpson threatens to cut $1m gift

One of Adelaide’s most private and generous families is threatening to withdraw a $1m gift to the South Australian Museum.

One of the Adelaide establishment’s most private families is threatening to withdraw a $1m gift to the South Australian Museum because they allege the “substantial donation has been grossly mismanaged”.

Breaking their traditional public silence, Antony and Mary Lou Simpson on Monday will tell a parliamentary committee they believe the institution is risking the donation “through a total lack of respect for a long-term friend of the museum and a surprising and deeply concerning devaluing of the role of science”.

Among Adelaide’s most generous philanthropists, the Simpson family became renowned for manufacturing household appliances with a business founded in 1853 and merged with Email Limited in 1986.

In speaking notes to the parliamentary committee supplied to The Advertiser, the Simpsons note a review ordered by Premier Peter Malinauskas into a controversial museum restructure and warn against any downgrading of “one of the most significant of South Australian scientific institutions”.

Antony and Mary Lou Simpson. are threatening to withdraw a $1m donation to the museum which they say has been mishandled. Picture: Dean Martin

Mr Simpson details his personal $1m gift “to provide salary support for a well-qualified research scientist in the field of critical minerals”, saying he has subsequently been told by the museum that it now did not intend to hire research scientists.

“This most categorically does not meet the conditions of my gift and, dependent upon the outcome of the Premier’s review, it may be necessary for the gift to be redirected to an institution that will use it for the designated scientific research,” Mr Simpson said.

“I personally feel very let down, as the SA Museum has been a highly favoured institution of myself and my family, and it would be most regrettable to see it transformed from one of the most significant of South Australian scientific institutions to a mere repository of collections, the enormous significance and value of which will be diminished by the proposed total absence of true scientific research.”

Mr Simpson also alleges the $1m gift was “significantly mismanaged” because he “stipulated that it must be appropriately invested in equities” but the “museum held it in a non-interest-bearing bank account from its receipt in September, 2019, until February, 2022”. He says he was only advised of this in August last year.

A controversial museum restructuring, which was opposed by 350 prominent Australians in an open letter to Mr Malinauskas, is being reviewed by a government-appointed team he announced in April.

Mr Simpson said his $1m gift was “to provide salary support” for a critical minerals research scientist, a position he claims the museum no longer intends to fill. Picture: Tom Huntley

Mrs Simpson intends to appear before parliament’s Statutory Authorities Review Committee on Monday morning, making a statement that includes a quoted passage from her husband.

In her speaking notes, Mrs Simpson alleges her husband’s “substantial donation has been grossly mismanaged, with enormous damage to the institution’s reputation”.

“The museum’s current management is directly risking the loss of $1 million through a total lack of respect for a long-term friend of the museum and a surprising and deeply concerning devaluing of the role of science,” she says.

Both Mr and Mrs Simpson’s families have long associations with the museum – both Mrs Simpson and her father received Order of Australia medals for their contributions.

Mr Simpson’s family, including the Cleland branch, have served on the museum board, while he was president for 26 years of the Waterhouse Club, a museum association.

“Our family has a deep and personal attachment to the institution, with its proud record of fine science and community service,” Mrs Simpson says. 

“Rebuilding the trust of the hundreds of museum supporters, donors, staff, honoraries and volunteers is critical to the museum’s ongoing success.

“We strongly hold the view that changes need to be made at the board and administration level before we, and others, can again feel confident supporting an institution we value so highly.”

South Australian Museum chief executive Dr David Gaimster said discussions with the Simpsons had been “positive” and they were working together closely on a new project.

“(Mr Simpson) has a special interest in mineralogy and the Museum has recently made a major acquisition in this field,” he said.

“Some of the donation will support documentation and research into this new collection, which is of major scientific interest.”

“Any funds associated with this donation will be deployed in consultation with the donor.”

Mr Malinauskas in late April commissioned a “rapid review” of the museum's controversial restructure led by a government-appointed team, including SA’s chief scientist professor Craig Simmons.

The ‘Reimagining the Museum’ plan had proposed 27 job losses in the research and collections team, to be replaced with 22 mostly lower-level positions.

The Legislative Council committee inquiry, at which Mrs Simpson will appear, is examining the museum restructure.

Originally published as SA Museum donor Antony Simpson threatens to cut $1m gift