Mystery surrounds timeline for display of $500m art collection

A reclusive Melbourne art collector dreamt of his prized collection being displayed in a controversial gallery in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges. But he never lived to see it.

Lindsey Hogg with a selection of works from his $500m art collection. Picture: David Caird

The reclusive Melbourne rich-lister art collector, who amassed a trove of masterpieces worth half a billion dollars which he planned to house in a private gallery in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges, sadly died before seeing his dream come to fruition.

Lindsey Quentin Hogg spent his life running his chemical businesses, buying extraordinary works of art under a fake name, and avoiding publicity.

It can now be revealed the Sandringham local passed away, aged 81, on August 19 last year just two months after plans for the gallery, named Rosemaur in honour of his parents, got government approval.

For a man who had stayed out of the spotlight for the majority of his life, Hogg became a bit of a media showpony in his last two years as he made public his plan to build the $50m gallery complex at Harkaway and revealed the scope and scale of his art collection.

This piece by Anthony Bickerton is part of Hogg’s collection. Picture: David Caird

The gallery project faced considerable opposition with a petition by the Friends of Harkaway resident’s group, concerned about an influx of traffic to the area, attracting 1200 signatures. More than 500 submissions were made to a public hearing into the proposal in March 2021.

The Victorian government confirmed in June 2022 that the development could proceed, requiring the art be displayed for a minimum of 40 weeks per year and in perpetuity.

Hogg’s gallery proposal faced considerable opposition from locals. Picture: David Caird

Hogg is survived by two daughters, Miranda and Alexandra Hogg, with publicly available documents revealing his personal estate was valued at $25m. The art is not included among his personal estate.

Hogg had previously spoken about how the works – reports vary as to whether there are 120 or 150 pieces – would be housed in Rosemaur Gallery, which would be run by a charitable trust.

The collection includes works by Christopher R. W. Nevinson, Laurence Stephen Lowry, Sir William Orpen, Sidney Nolan, Brett Whiteley, John Brack, Stanley Spencer, Lucian Freud, Albert Tucker, Francis Bacon, Horace Vernet, Luca Giordano, Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt and Otto Dix amassed over 40 years.

Rose & Maurice Hogg Gallery Ltd, which is registered as a charity and lists Miranda Hogg as a director, declined to comment when asked about the timeline of the gallery build.

The story of Hogg’s dedication and passion in building the collection of master works and the regard the collection is held in internationally is one of Melbourne’s most unique and fascinating tales.