Sir Peter John Derham, (21 August 1925 – 24 September 2008) was an Australian business executive and philanthropist. Derham graduated from the

University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria. Its main campus is located in Parkville, an inner suburb n ...

with a BSc in 1959. He is a former resident of

Ormond College Ormond College is the largest of the residential colleges of the University of Melbourne located in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is home to around 350 undergraduates, 90 graduates and 35 professorial and academic residents. H ...

and

International House International House or International Student(s) House may refer to: Australia *International House, Sydney, a heritage-listed building in Sydney, New South Wales *International House (University of Melbourne), a residential college on the campus o ...

. In 1940 he joined the forces and served as a member of the

Royal Australian Navy The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the principal naval force of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The professional head of the RAN is Chief of Navy (CN) Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AM, RAN. CN is also jointly responsible to the Minister of ...

from 1945 to 1946. In 1980, Derham was knighted for his service to industry, including tourism and science. He has been heavily involved in the preservation and restoration of heritage sites, including

Mawson's Huts Mawson's Huts are the collection of buildings located at Cape Denison, Commonwealth Bay, in the far eastern sector of the Australian Antarctic Territory, some 3000 km south of Hobart. The buildings were erected and occupied by the Austral ...

, in

Antarctica Antarctica () is Earth's southernmost and least-populated continent. Situated almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle and surrounded by the Southern Ocean, it contains the geographic South Pole. Antarctica is the fifth-largest co ...

and sat on a number of prominent charity boards including

the Alfred Hospital The Alfred Hospital, also known as The Alfred or Alfred Hospital, is a leading tertiary teaching hospital in Melbourne, Victoria. It is the second oldest hospital in Victoria, and the oldest Melbourne hospital still operating on its original si ...

, Breast Cancer Network,

Australian Koala Foundation The Australian Koala Foundation (AKF) is registered Australian charity created in 1986, dedicated to the effective management and conservation of the koala and its habitat. It is the principal non-profit, non-governmental organisation dedicate ...

and the Australian Childhood Foundation. In 1989 Derham and his wife Lady Derham established the renowned Red Hill Estate winery on the

Mornington Peninsula The Mornington Peninsula is a peninsula located south of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is surrounded by Port Phillip to the west, Western Port to the east and Bass Strait to the south, and is connected to the mainland in the north. Ge ...

. In 2001, Derham was awarded the

Companion of the Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Go ...

(AC) for service as an innovator in tourism development, commerce and science, to the community and to the preservation of heritage sites in the Antarctic. At 80 years of age and after 21 years, Derham stood down from Circadian Technologies (ASX:CIR) as the founding chairman. He died at Cabrini Hospital following a stroke, aged 83.High achiever who never said never
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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Derham, Peter 1925 births 2008 deaths University of Melbourne alumni Australian Knights Bachelor Companions of the Order of Australia 20th-century Australian businesspeople