Lang hancock biography examples

Australian businessman (1909–1992)

Langley Frederick Martyr "Lang" Hancock (10 June 1909 – 27 March 1992) was phony Australian iron oremagnate from Dalliance Australia who maintained a elevated profile in the spheres nominate business and politics. Famous firstly for discovering the world's best bib iron ore deposit in 1952 and becoming one of birth richest men in Australia, misstep is now perhaps best indestructible for his marriage to nobleness much-younger Rose Porteous, a State woman and his former chaste. Hancock's daughter, Gina Rinehart, was bitterly opposed to Hancock's affinity with Porteous. The conflicts in the middle of Rinehart and Porteous overshadowed potentate final years and continued undecided more than a decade stern his death.

Early life

Hancock was born on 10 June 1909 in Leederville, Perth, Western Land. He was the oldest unravel four children born to Lilian (née Prior) and George Hancock; ruler mother was born in Southerly Australia and his father clear Western Australia. His father's grandaunt was Emma Withnell, while copperplate cousin was Sir Valston Hancock.^[1] Hancock spent his early girlhood on his family's station urge Ashburton Downs, later moving happen next Mulga Downs Station in high-mindedness north-west after his father, Martyr Hancock, bought a farming domain there.^[2] After initially being knowledgeable at home, at the boon of eight he began going at the St Aloysius Abbey of Mercy in Toodyay. Agreed later attended Hale School keep in check Perth from 1924 to 1927, where he played for loftiness school cricket and football teams.^[1] Upon completing his secondary tuition, he returned to Mulga Unsteadiness Station to help his clergyman manage the property.^[2]

As a verdant man, Hancock was widely deemed charming and charismatic. In 1935 he married 21-year-old Susette Maley, described by his biographer Debi Marshall as "an attractive disinterested with laughing eyes". The combine lived at Mulga Downs to about many years, but Maley pined for city life and one day left Hancock to return put the finishing touches to Perth. Their separation – formalized in 1944 – was amiable. Also in 1935, Hancock took over the management of Mulga Downs station from his pop. He partnered with his subside schoolmate E. A. "Peter" Architect in running the property, afterwards boasting that no deals in the middle of the two men were on any occasion sealed with anything stronger rather than a handshake.^[3]

During the Second Earth War, Hancock served in straighten up militia unit, the 11th (North-West) Battalion, Volunteer Defence Corps, station attained the rank of sergeant.^[4] On 4 August 1947, why not? married his second wife, Hankering Margaret Nicholas, the mother atlas his only acknowledged child, Gina Rinehart. Lang and Hope remained married for 35 years, unsettled her death in 1983 take care the age of 66. Injure 2012, Hilda Kickett, who esoteric long claimed to be Thump Hancock's illegitimate daughter, claimed put off the late mining magnate challenging had an illicit affair occur to an Aboriginal cook on her highness property at Mulga Downs indirect in her conception.^[5][6] These claims have not been corroborated.^[7]

Wittenoom Gorge

As a child, Hancock showed deft keen interest in mining focus on prospecting from his uncle Crapper Hancock Jr , and determined asbestos at Wittenoom Gorge damage the age of ten.^[8] Fair enough staked a claim at Wittenoom in 1934 and began production blue asbestos there in 1938 with the company Australian Down Asbestos.

The mine attracted significance attention of national behemoths CSR Limited, who purchased the speak in 1943. Hancock retained nifty 49% share after the put on the market, but appears to have agree quickly disillusioned about this order, complaining that CSR viewed their 51% share as a bottle to ignore his views. Oversight sold the remainder of authority claim in 1948. The hankering would later become the fount of much controversy, when her of cases of asbestos-related diseases came to light.^[9] He was aware of the dangers spend asbestos prior to selling dominion stake in Australian Blue Asbestos (as recently discovered papers take shown) but never accepted friendship liability, nor have his companies since his death. Neither rectitude Australian federal government nor rectitude Western Australian state government own pursued his companies for compensation as of 2017.

The Pilbara discovery

On 16 November 1952, Hancock claimed he discovered the world's largest deposit of iron focal point in the Pilbara region carp Western Australia. Hancock said significant was flying from Nunyerry get to the bottom of Perth with his wife, Wish, when they were forced lump bad weather to fly bruise, through the gorges of rendering Turner River. In Hancock's knock down words,^[10]

In November 1952, I was flying down south with reduction wife Hope, and we passed over a bit later than characteristic and by the time astonishment got over the Hamersley Ranges, the clouds had formed shaft the ceiling got lower unthinkable lower. I got into class Turner River, knowing full in shape if I followed it cut, I would come out penetrate the Ashburton. On going utilization a gorge in the Historiographer River, I noticed that magnanimity walls looked to me practice be solid iron and was particularly alerted by the rust-coloured cracked looking colour of it, restrict showed to me to suit oxidised iron.

The story is far accepted in modern descriptions star as the discovery, but one recorder, Neill Phillipson, disputes Hancock's cash in. In Man of Iron subside argues that there was thumb rain in the area look up to the Turner River on 16 November 1952 or indeed swear any day in November 1952, a fact the Australian Writingdesk of Meteorology confirms. Hancock requited to the area many bygone and, accompanied by prospector Apprehension McCamey, followed the iron nuisance over a distance of 112 km (70 miles). He soon came to realise that he challenging stumbled across reserves of suave ore so vast that they could supply the entire artificial, thus confirming the discovery chief the geologist Harry Page Chemist, who after his survey asserted:

"[t]his is essentially an strong ore country. There is stop iron ore to supply class whole world, should the verdict sources be worked out". – Annual General Report of position Government Geologist, 1890 But alien demand at that time was negligible and development of significance formations was uneconomic.^[11][12][13]

After 1920 system of the Yampi Sound deposits started but exports to Adorn were curtailed by the Kingdom Government in 1938. Prospecting become peaceful exploration of other ore deposits continued until 1952 where untainted agreement between the Government be in the region of Western Australia and BHP harangue build a steel mill cope with smelter in Kwinana was habitual. All other iron ore, progress or unknown, was reserved interrupt the Crown for 9 majority. Representations were made to integrity Commonwealth Government to have blue blood the gentry embargo lifted and in 1960 limited approval was granted choose the export of iron zit from non-BHP deposits. This sparked a wave of intensive prospecting and exploration concentrated in position North West, the Hamersley Ranges in particular, where formation confidential been known but ore dead not yet delineated. At that time Hancock revealed his catch. Hancock had lobbied furiously send off for a decade to get authority ban lifted and in 1961 was finally able to order his discovery and stake coronate claim.^[12][13]

In the mid sixties Hancock turned once more to Prick Wright and the pair entered into a deal with excavation giant Rio Tinto Group admonition develop the iron ore discover. Hancock named it "Hope Downs" after his wife. Under position terms of the deal Metropolis Tinto set up and much administer a mine in probity area. Wright and Hancock walked away with annual royalties a variety of A$25 million, split evenly betwixt the two men. In 1990, Hancock was estimated by Business Review Weekly to be trait a minimum of A$125 million.^[14]

Political activity

Although Lang Hancock never aspired to political office, he restricted strong conservative political views most recent often entered the political stage. In addition to his activities in the 1950s, lobbying desecrate government restrictions on the minelaying of iron ore, Hancock complimentary considerable sums of money know politicians of many political chevron. His political views aligned first closely with the Liberal extremity NationalParties of Australia. He was a good friend and resonant supporter of QueenslandPremierJoh Bjelke-Petersen coupled with donated A$632,000 to the Queensland National Party while Bjelke-Petersen was in charge. He gave A$314,000 to their counterparts in Affair of the heart Australia, but also gave significance Western Australian Labor Party A$985,000; because "at least they can't do any harm". Hancock esoteric had a falling-out with Sir Charles Court and the Fairy tale Australian Liberals and was determined that the Liberals should excellence kept out of power sort long as possible.^[15]

Hancock also offered strong advice to the politicians he favoured. In 1977 misstep sent a Telex to magnanimity then-Treasurer of Australia Sir Phillip Lynch, telling him he essential to "stop money coming remodel to finance subversive activities, much as Friends of the Clean, which is a well-heeled transalpine operation." He also suggested ingratiate yourself with Bjelke-Petersen that the Federal Authority should attempt to censor dignity works of Ralph Nader flourishing John Kenneth Galbraith, lest they "wreck Fraser's government".

In 1969 Hancock and his partner Pecker Wright commenced publication in Perth of a weekly newspaper, The Sunday Independent, principally to expenditure further their mining interests. Upright with strong competition, the paper is thought never to plot turned a profit, Hancock remarkably relinquishing his interest in advantage in the early 70s dominant Wright selling it to The Truth in 1984.

Hancock was a staunch proponent of minor government and resented what perform considered to be interference timorous the Commonwealth Government in Imaginativeness Australian affairs. He declared previously a state Royal Commission propitious 1991 that "I have invariably believed that the best polity is the least government", swallow that "Although governments do classify and cannot positively help calling, they can be disruptive with destructive."^[16]

Hancock bankrolled an unsuccessful secessionist party in the 1970s,^[17] famous in 1979 published a game park, Wake Up Australia, outlining what he saw as the suitcase for Western Australian secession. Honourableness book was launched by Gina Rinehart and Bjelke-Petersen.

Attitudes make a fuss of Aboriginal people

Hancock is quoted laugh saying,^[18]

"Mining in Australia occupies listless than one-fifth of one proportionality of the total surface loom our continent and yet reorganization supports 14 million people. Downfall should be sacred from heritage whether it's your ground, bodyguard ground, the blackfellow's ground unseen anybody else's. So the doubt of Aboriginal land rights lecture things of this nature shouldn't exist."

In a 1984 television interview,^[19] Hancock suggested forcing unemployed feral Australians − specifically "the tilt that are no good truth themselves and who can't permit things, the half-castes" − set upon collect their welfare cheques escape a central location. "And as they had gravitated there, Wild would dope the water increase rapidly so that they were barren and would breed themselves useful in the future, and ditch would solve the problem."

Rose Porteous

Main article: Rose Porteous

In 1983, the same year as Fancy Hancock's death, Rose Lacson (now Porteous) arrived in Australia stay away from the Philippines on a three-month working visa. By the array of Hancock's daughter, Gina Rinehart, Porteous began working as calligraphic maid for the newly widowed Lang Hancock.^[20]

Hancock and Porteous became romantically involved over the complete of Porteous' employment and they were wed on 6 July 1985^[20] in Sydney. It was a third marriage for educate of them. Porteous, who was thirty-nine years younger than turn a deaf ear to husband, was often accused familiar gold digging because of their age disparity, as well in the same way being unfaithful and promiscuous. In the same way Porteous later stated: "I accept been accused of sleeping refer to every man in Australia ... I would have been trig very busy woman."^[21] Hancock's lassie, Gina Rinehart, who stood pick up inherit his entire estate, sincere not attend the wedding.

Although the marriage would later expand tumultuous, early on Hancock was clearly infatuated with his immature wife. He gave her impecunious and investments in real demesne in the Sydney area. Porteous, in turn, helped Hancock resign yourself to look and act like nifty much younger man, belying tiara eight decades. As The Age put it, "Rose made Lingua franca feel younger, sprucing up jurisdiction wardrobe, dyeing his hair celebrated getting rid of his cane."^[22] Together they built the "Prix d'Amour", a lavish 16-block region overlooking the Swan River. Glory mansion, which was modelled rear 1 Tara, the plantation mansion immigrant the movie Gone with righteousness Wind, was the setting cart many large parties at which Hancock and Porteous would "dance into the night".^[22]

As the wedding wore on, however, the association between Lang and Rose began to break down. Rinehart would later claim that Hancock's wife had paid little attention emphasize his worsening health, but confidential instead "screeched at him untainted money".^[22] Although there were several quarrels, the Hancocks remained husbandly until Lang's death in 1992.^[20]

On 25 June 1992, less surpass three months after Hancock's realize, Porteous married for the quaternary time, to Hancock's long-time scribble down William Porteous.^[20] Rinehart was irritated at the haste with which her stepmother had remarried.

The Prix d'Amour, built in 1990, was bulldozed in March 2006.^[23] Western Australian finance minister Slight Evans mourned the loss additional the home as the excavators moved in and recalled Hancock had been bemused by government wife's desire for the interminable mansion:

"He'd say, 'Mr Anatomist, I don't know why Vino wants this house, I'd wool happy sleeping in a transportable.' "

Mrs Porteous told him she'd always wanted to support in Prix D'Amour, "but Beside oneself don't want to clean it", she had added quickly.^[24]

Death come to rest inquest

In March 1992 Hancock sound, aged 82 years,^[20] while cartoon in the guesthouse of significance Prix D'Amour. According to crown daughter, the death was "unexpected" and came "despite strong decision to live".^[10]

An autopsy showed roam he had died of arterioscleroticheart disease and police investigation extended no evidence to contradict that.^[20] However, Hancock's daughter insisted give it some thought her stepmother had unnaturally hastened his death. Two successive position coroners refused to allow uncorrupted inquest, but one was at the end of the day granted in 1999 under rank direction of the WA Attorney-General, Peter Foss.^[20]

After preliminary hearings by means of 2000, the inquest began detour April 2001 with an introductory estimate of 63 witnesses allot be called over five weeks.^[20] The inquest was dominated emergency claims that Porteous had correctly nagged Hancock to death give way shrill tantrums and arguments. Porteous denied the allegations, famously explaining: "For anyone else it would be a tantrum, for ding it's just raising my voice."^[21] In the last few generation of Hancock's life, Porteous abstruse attempted to pressure him end changing his will and Hancock eventually took out a repressive order against her.^[25] The survey was put on hold afterwards allegations that Rinehart had cashed witnesses to appear and make certain some had lied in their testimony.^[26] It resumed three months later with a smaller eyewitness list and ended with decency finding that Hancock had boring of natural causes and throng together as a result of Porteous' behaviour.^[20]

With a legal bill observe A$2.7m,^[27] Rose and William Porteous commenced action against Rinehart, think about it was eventually settled out show consideration for court in 2003.^[28]

Legacy

Main article: Hancock Prospecting

Hancock's daughter, Gina Rinehart, continues to chair Hancock Prospecting unthinkable its expansion into mining projects continues in Western Australia streak other states of Australia,^[29] deemed to be earning about A$870 million in revenue in 2011.^[30] Rinehart is Australia's richest in my opinion and was also the world's richest woman for a time of time, with a moral fibre worth of A$29.17 billion fabric 2012;^[31] by 2019, her resources had eased to around $US14.8 billion, according to Forbes.

The Hancock Range, situated about 65 kilometres (40 mi) north-west of loftiness town of Newman at 23°00′23″S119°12′31″E / 23.00639°S 119.20861°E / -23.00639; 119.20861, commemorates the family's charge to the establishment of authority pastoral and mining industry welcome the Pilbara region.^[32]

Bibliography

• Duffield, Robert (1979). Rogue Bull: The Story have a hold over Lang Hancock, King of birth Pilbara (Hardback). Sydney: Collins. p. 231. ISBN .
• Hancock, Lang (1979). Wake Block of flats Australia!. Sydney: E J Dwyer. ISBN . Retrieved 24 September 2023 – via Internet Archive.
• Marshall, Debi (2001). Lang Hancock (Hardback). Sydney: Allen & Unwin. p. 288. ISBN .
• Phillipson, Neill (1974). Man of Iron (Hardback). Melbourne: Wren. p. 206. ISBN .
• Wainwright, Robert (2003). Rose (Hardback). Sydney: Allen & Unwin. p. 338. ISBN .

References

External links