Premiers and billionaires line up to farewell an ad industry giant

On the occasion of what would have been his 82nd birthday, Melbourne gathered at a state memorial service to farewell “a country kid who made it big”, as the premier put it.

Harold Mitchell was a pioneer of the advertising media buying industry who loomed large over the corporate and philanthropic worlds before he died on February 10 after complications from surgery.

“He went from a small sawmill in Stawell to some of the biggest boardrooms and businesses in Australia,” Premier Jacinta Allan said. “And along that journey, he made a remarkable imprint on our state and our country.”

No fewer than three former premiers – Daniel Andrews, Jeff Kennett and Steve Bracks, and their spouses – were among the 500-odd people present paying tribute to Mitchell, who ran the independent media and advertising company Mitchell & Partners as it came to dominate the industry.

“He was a dynamo,” transport magnate Lindsay Fox said on his way into Hamer Hall, gripping this reporter by the shoulder.

“He did a lot for everybody he ever came in contact with – he was a giver, not a taker. And that is all you need to be.”

Lindsay Fox at the Harold Mitchell service. Credit: Eddie Jim

Mitchell became rich by revolutionising the placement of ads on television and in newspapers to ensure they were seen by the biggest audience possible. He then took the money he made and ploughed it into good causes.

At various times Mitchell ran his own Harold Mitchell Foundation, was chairman of the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, chairman of the National Gallery of Australia, president of the Museums Board of Victoria and a board member of Opera Australia and the New York Philharmonic.

He also funded many artistic and cultural concerns, including buying the strings for the Russian Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra.

Mitchell gave his time, money and food to Australia’s near neighbour Timor-Leste, even buying Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao his first suit when Timor-Leste was a country in waiting. At the service via video, Gusmao called Mitchell a “belum boot”, which translates as “a great friend”.

Inside Hamer Hall at the service.Credit: Eddie Jim

Many in the audience felt the same way: Lord Mayor Sally Capp; Eddie McGuire; Janet Whiting, the chair of Visit Victoria and the National Gallery of Victoria; financier Peter Yates; former AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou; former broadcaster Jon Faine; Mick Gatto; and Mitchell’s interior designer, Tennille Joy Burnup.

Also present were independent publisher Morry Schwartz and gallery owner Anna Schwartz, News Corp national executive editor Peter Blunden, former Seven executive Bruce McWilliam and Greg Hywood, the former Fairfax Media chief executive.

Mick Gatto. Credit: Eddie Jim

Mitchell stared down at proceedings from a large photograph accompanied by Lilly, his West Highland white terrier Pomeranian cross.

Mitchell’s son Stuart gave a eulogy and spoke of his father’s large and complex life and how he desired two things: a better life for his family and a more prosperous world.

“Harold changed the world in so many ways and he changed it for the better.”

Stuart Mitchell recalled how his father one Sunday suddenly slashed the trip to bring home Chinese takeaway to their home in St Andrews outside of Melbourne down from 90 minutes to 15 minutes, astonishing him and his sister Amanda.

“We have got a new local Chinese restaurant,” Mitchell snr declared. “I sponsored a family from Shanghai to come out and set one up.”

Channel Seven owner Kerry Stokes beamed in from the West Australian bush and recalled how Mitchell once told him he had “bought the Kimberley”. Not quite, but a modest station that grew into a company with three main cattle stations of more than 850,000 hectares with about 45,000 head of cattle, which sold for $70 million.

Channel Seven owner Kerry Stokes beams in from the West Australian bush to pay tribute to the philanthropist.Credit: Eddie Jim

Far away from Hamer Hall, Leehron Robertson, a former customer service manager at the South Melbourne branch of Bendigo Bank, told this masthead how a decade ago he would recall a “very humble man” in a navy blue tracksuit entering the branch on Fridays and withdrawing thousands of dollars.

Soon his customer became his mentor. “He spent more time asking what you were doing in your job,” Robertson said.

“It was only later that I found out that the money wasn’t for him; it was for people in need. Which was crazy because it was thousands of dollars that he would withdraw at a time.

“I know he definitely helped to shape my future interactions [with people].”

Get the day’s breaking news, entertainment ideas and a long read to enjoy. Sign up to receive our Evening Edition newsletter here.