Sir Douglas Frank Hewson Packer (3 December 19061 May 1974), was an Australian

media proprietor A media proprietor, also called a media executive, media mogul, media tycoon, or press baron is an entrepreneur who controls any means of public or commercial mass media, through the personal ownership or holding of a dominant position within a ...

who controlled Australian Consolidated Press and the

Nine Network Nine Network (stylised 9Network, and commonly known as Channel Nine or simply Nine) is an Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by parent company Nine Entertainment and is one of the five main free-to-air television ...

. He was a patriarch of the

Packer family The Packer family has played a significant role in the Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the i ...

Early life

Frank Packer was born in Kings Cross, in the eastern suburbs of Sydney,

New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...

. His parents were Ethel Maude Packer (née Hewison; 1878–1947) and Robert Clyde Packer (1879–1934), who started the family's association with the media as a journalist in New South Wales. His father, R. C. Packer, became editor of ''The Sunday Times'' and was a founder of ''

Smith's Weekly ''Smith's Weekly'' was an Australian tabloid newspaper published from 1919 to 1950. It was an independent weekly published in Sydney, but read all over Australia. History The publication took its name from its founder and chief financer Sir ...

'' and the '' Daily Guardian'', which was published by Smith's Newspapers Ltd. "A mischievous youngster and a poor student", Packer frequently switched schools, attending Turramurra College, Abbotsholme College, Wahroonga Grammar School, and Sydney Church of England Grammar School at various times. He did not sit for the Intermediate Certificate.

Career

In 1923, Packer became a cadet journalist on his father's paper, the '' Daily Guardian''. Four years later, he was a director of the company. In 1933, Packer started ''

The Australian Women's Weekly ''The Australian Women's Weekly'', sometimes known simply as ''The Weekly'', is an Australian monthly women's magazine published by Are Media in Sydney and founded in 1933. For many years it was the number one magazine in Australia before bein ...

'' and then transformed ''

The Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a British daily broadsheet conservative newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed in the United Kingdom and internationally. It was found ...

'' into one of Australia's leading newspapers. Packer inherited his media interests on his father's death in 1934. In 1936, he joined with

Ted Theodore Edward Granville Theodore (29 December 1884 – 9 February 1950) was an Australian politician who served as Premier of Queensland from 1919 to 1925, as leader of the Australian Labor Party (Queensland Branch), state Labor Party. He later entere ...

's Sydney Newspapers and Associated Newspapers to form Australian Consolidated Press. He was chairman of ACP from 1936 until 1974. When television was introduced to Australia in 1956, Packer, along with the other major newspaper publishers ( Fairfax, HWT and

David Syme David Syme (2 October 1827 – 14 February 1908) was a Scotland, Scottish-Australian newspaper proprietor of ''The Age'' and regarded as "the father of Protectionism, protection in Australia" who had immense influence in the Government of Victor ...

), became a significant television network shareholder under the federal government's "dual formula", which allowed each capital city to have two commercial networks and one ABC. He launched the first Australian station to broadcast a regular schedule, TCN in Sydney, which became the nucleus of the

. The Packer media empire was known for its conservative leanings, and was a strong backer of long-serving

Prime Minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...

Robert Menzies The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' () "fame, glory, honour, praise, reno ...

. Packer was a keen yachtsman, boxer, golfer and polo player. He was on the

Australian Jockey Club Australian Turf Club (ATC) owns and operates thoroughbred racing, events and hospitality venues across Sydney, Australia. The ATC came into being on 7 February 2011 when the Australian Jockey Club (AJC) and the Sydney Turf Club (STC) merged. The ...

's committee for 12 years and won the Caulfield Cup with his horse Columnist. He was also chairman of a syndicate that built the yachts ''Gretel'' and '' Gretel II'' to challenge for the

America's Cup The America's Cup is a sailing competition and the oldest international competition still operating in any sport. America's Cup match races are held between two sailing yachts: one from the yacht club that currently holds the trophy (known ...

in 1962 and 1970. In 1972, Sir Frank Packer sold his newspaper flagship, ''The Daily Telegraph'', to

Rupert Murdoch Keith Rupert Murdoch ( ; born 11 March 1931) is an Australian - American retired business magnate, investor, and media mogul. Through his company News Corp, he is the owner of hundreds of List of assets owned by News Corp, local, national, a ...

. In 1992, journalist Max Walsh told the House of Representatives Select Committee on the Print Media that Frank Packer had exerted undue newsroom influence. "Sir Frank was knee-deep in heeditorial policy of the ''Telegraph''", Walsh said.

Family life

Frank Packer was married to Gretel Joyce Bullmore (1907–1960) on 24 July 1934 at All Saints Anglican Church,

Woollahra Woollahra ( ) is a suburb in the Eastern Suburbs (Sydney), Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Woollahra is located east of the Sydney central business district, in the Local government in Australia, local go ...

. He had two sons, Clyde and Kerry, with his first wife, Gretel. Gretel Packer died in 1960. Packer married for the second time in June 1964 to Florence Adeline Vincent (née Porges) in London. She died in 2012. Packers

Death

On 1 May 1974, Packer died of heart failure at The Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown of "

Pneumonia Pneumonia is an Inflammation, inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as Pulmonary alveolus, alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of Cough#Classification, productive or dry cough, ches ...

and reticulum cell

sarcoma A sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that arises from cells of mesenchymal origin. Originating from mesenchymal cells means that sarcomas are cancers of connective tissues such as bone, cartilage, muscle, fat, or vascular tissues. Sarcom ...

". He was cremated at

Northern Suburbs Crematorium The Northern Suburbs Crematorium, officially Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens and Crematorium, is a crematorium in North Ryde, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. It was officially opened on 28 October 1933, and the first cremation t ...

and his ashes were interred within the Packer family mausoleum at South Head Cemetery. His estate was valued for probate in 1975 at $2,393,703.11 which, adjusted for inflation, would account to $23,232,745.54 in 2023. Notable items declared in his estate, were paintings and sketches from some of Australia's most renowned artists, located at the family home, 'Cairnton' at Bellevue Hill was: Penleigh Boyd: * "''Wattle Tree'', signed and dated 1912" (oil on canvas) Rupert Bunny: * "''Feeding the Ducks'', signed" * "''Seated Woman with White Shawl'', signed" (oil on canvas) Sir

William Dobell Sir William Dobell (24 September 189913 May 1970) was an Australian portrait and landscape artist of the 20th century. Dobell won the Archibald Prize, Australia's premier award for portrait artists on three occasions. The Dobell Prize is named ...

: * "Sketch of Churchill's Hand giving the 'V' for victory sign, signed" * "''The Artist's Garden at Wangi'', signed" (ink on paper) * "''The Artist's Garden and Balcony overlooking the

Lake A lake is often a naturally occurring, relatively large and fixed body of water on or near the Earth's surface. It is localized in a basin or interconnected basins surrounded by dry land. Lakes lie completely on land and are separate from ...

at Wangi'', signed" * "''Woman in a Hamburger'', signed and dated 1944" (oil on board) * "''Portrait of Helena Rubenstein'', signed and dated 1959" (oil on board) * "''Boy in a white Lap Lap'', signed and dated 1952" (oil on board) Sir

Russell Drysdale Sir George Russell Drysdale (7 February 1912 – 29 June 1981), also known as Tass Drysdale, was an Australian artist. He won the prestigious Wynne Prize for ''Sofala (Drysdale), Sofala'' in 1947, and represented Australia at the Venice Biennal ...

: * "''The Hangar''" (watercolour and ink on pencil) * "''Men and Bird - Bass Straight'', signed" (oil on canvas) Robin Hill: * "''Grey Goshawke'', signed, titled and dated 1958" (water colour)

John Perceval John de Burgh Perceval AO (1 February 1923 – 15 October 2000) was a well-known Australian artist. Perceval was the last surviving member of a group known as the Angry Penguins who redefined Australian art in the 1940s. Other members includ ...

: * "''Cow bogged in a Swamp'', signed and dated 1960" Albert Tucker: * "''The Card Game'', signed and dated 1958" (oil on board)

Honours

Frank Packer was appointed a Commander of the

Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(CBE) in the King's Birthday Honours of 1951. He was

knighted A knight is a person granted an honorary title of a knighthood by a head of state (including the pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church, or the country, especially in a military capacity. The concept of a knighthood ...

in the Queen's Birthday Honours of 1959, for services to journalism and the newspaper industry. In the New Year's Honours of 1971 Sir Frank Packer was promoted within the

to Knight Commander (KBE), for services to Australian and international yachting.It's an Honour: KBE
/ref> Since 1980 the Frank Packer Plate has been conducted at

Randwick Racecourse Royal Randwick Racecourse is a racecourse for horse racing located in the Eastern Suburbs (Sydney), Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Randwick Racecourse is Crown Land leased to the Australian Turf Club and known to many Sydney r ...

. He was inducted into the

America's Cup Hall of Fame The America's Cup Hall of Fame, located at the Herreshoff Marine Museum of Bristol, Rhode Island, USA, honors individuals for outstanding achievement in the America's Cup sailing competition. Candidates eligible for consideration include skippers ...

in 1999.

Portrayal in media

In the 1984 television miniseries ''

Bodyline Bodyline, also known as fast leg theory bowling, was a cricketing tactic devised by the English cricket team for their English cricket team in Australia in 1932–33, 1932–33 Ashes tour of Australia. It was designed to combat the extraordinar ...

'', Packer, as employer of

Donald Bradman Sir Donald George Bradman (27 August 1908 – 25 February 2001), nicknamed "The Don", was an Australian international cricketer, widely acknowledged as the greatest batsman of all time. His cricketing successes have been claimed by Shane ...

, released him from a writing contract so he could play in the 1932–1933 Ashes; he was portrayed by Brian McDermott. In the 1988 television miniseries '' The True Believers'', Packer was portrayed by Australian actor Max Phipps. In the 2007 television biopic '' The King'' about comedian

Graham Kennedy Graham Cyril Kennedy Order of Australia, AO (15 February 1934 – 25 May 2005) was an Australian entertainer, comedian and variety performer, radio and television host as well as a personality and actor of theatre, television and film. He wa ...

, Packer was portrayed by Australian actor Leo Taylor. In the 2011 television miniseries '' Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo'', Packer was portrayed by Australian actor Tony Barry. In the 2013 television miniseries '' Power Games: The Packer-Murdoch War'', Packer was played by Australian actor

Lachy Hulme Lachy Hulme (born 1 April 1971) is an Australian actor and screenwriter. He has written several films and has appeared in a number of Australian and US film and television productions. Early life Hulme was born in Melbourne, Victoria where he h ...

, who had previously portrayed Kerry Packer in '' Howzat! Kerry Packer's War'' the previous year.