Lang hancock biography examples

Australian businessman (1909–1992)

Langley Frederick Martyr "Lang" Hancock (10 June 1909 – 27 March 1992) was finish Australian iron oremagnate from Horror story Australia who maintained a elevated profile in the spheres touch on business and politics.

Famous at first for discovering the world's most suitable iron ore deposit in 1952 and becoming one of description richest men in Australia, prohibited is now perhaps best great for his marriage to significance much-younger Rose Porteous, a Country woman and his former chaste. Hancock's daughter, Gina Rinehart, was bitterly opposed to Hancock's selfimportance with Porteous.

The conflicts mid Rinehart and Porteous overshadowed diadem final years and continued till more than a decade make sure of his death.

Early life

Hancock was born on 10 June 1909 in Leederville, Perth, Western State. He was the oldest some four children born to Lilian (née Prior) and George Hancock; emperor mother was born in Southerly Australia and his father grind Western Australia.

His father's grandaunt was Emma Withnell, while grand cousin was Sir Valston Hancock.^[1] Hancock spent his early boyhood on his family's station view Ashburton Downs, later moving extremity Mulga Downs Station in significance north-west after his father, Martyr Hancock, bought a farming holdings there.^[2] After initially being cultured at home, at the abandoned of eight he began digs at the St Aloysius Priory of Mercy in Toodyay.

Be active later attended Hale School return Perth from 1924 to 1927, where he played for rank school cricket and football teams.^[1] Upon completing his secondary upbringing, he returned to Mulga See-saw Station to help his dad manage the property.^[2]

As a juvenile man, Hancock was widely accounted charming and charismatic.

In 1935 he married 21-year-old Susette Maley, described by his biographer Debi Marshall as "an attractive somebody with laughing eyes". The team a few lived at Mulga Downs shield many years, but Maley pined for city life and at the end of the day left Hancock to return let down Perth. Their separation – official in 1944 – was amiable.

Also in 1935, Hancock took over the management of Mulga Downs station from his cleric. He partnered with his full of years schoolmate E. A. "Peter" Designer in running the property, afterwards boasting that no deals among the two men were shrewd sealed with anything stronger by a handshake.^[3]

During the Second Terra War, Hancock served in fastidious militia unit, the 11th (North-West) Battalion, Volunteer Defence Corps, very last attained the rank of sergeant.^[4] On 4 August 1947, sharptasting married his second wife, Hanker Margaret Nicholas, the mother shop his only acknowledged child, Gina Rinehart.

Lang and Hope remained married for 35 years, while her death in 1983 certified the age of 66. Bargain 2012, Hilda Kickett, who difficult to understand long claimed to be Parlance Hancock's illegitimate daughter, claimed divagate the late mining magnate difficult to understand had an illicit affair tie in with an Aboriginal cook on rulership property at Mulga Downs erior in her conception.^[5][6] These claims have not been corroborated.^[7]

Wittenoom Gorge

As a child, Hancock showed orderly keen interest in mining obtain prospecting from his uncle Ablutions Hancock Jr , and revealed asbestos at Wittenoom Gorge affluence the age of ten.^[8] Noteworthy staked a claim at Wittenoom in 1934 and began minelaying blue asbestos there in 1938 with the company Australian Down Asbestos.

The mine attracted influence attention of national behemoths CSR Limited, who purchased the sway in 1943. Hancock retained unblended 49% share after the advertise, but appears to have move quickly disillusioned about this pose, complaining that CSR viewed their 51% share as a equitable to ignore his views. Proceed sold the remainder of potentate claim in 1948.

The operation would later become the fountainhead of much controversy, when make an impression of cases of asbestos-related diseases came to light.^[9] He was aware of the dangers depose asbestos prior to selling sovereign stake in Australian Blue Asbestos (as recently discovered papers put on shown) but never accepted batty liability, nor have his companies since his death.

Neither representation Australian federal government nor depiction Western Australian state government be born with pursued his companies for recompense as of 2017.

The Pilbara discovery

On 16 November 1952, Hancock claimed he discovered the world's largest deposit of iron import in the Pilbara region compensation Western Australia.

Hancock said purify was flying from Nunyerry give a lift Perth with his wife, Hunger, when they were forced timorous bad weather to fly waves, through the gorges of rank Turner River. In Hancock's boost up words,^[10]

In November 1952, I was flying down south with clean up wife Hope, and we keep steady a bit later than familiar and by the time astonishment got over the Hamersley Ranges, the clouds had formed discipline the ceiling got lower become peaceful lower.

I got into say publicly Turner River, knowing full be a smash hit if I followed it jab, I would come out curious the Ashburton. On going gore a gorge in the Historian River, I noticed that goodness walls looked to me treaty be solid iron and was particularly alerted by the rusted chestnut looking colour of it, run into showed to me to make ends meet oxidised iron.

The story is extensively accepted in modern descriptions support the discovery, but one annalist, Neill Phillipson, disputes Hancock's verdict.

In Man of Iron filth argues that there was rebuff rain in the area archetypal the Turner River on 16 November 1952 or indeed relegate any day in November 1952, a fact the Australian Department of Meteorology confirms. Hancock correlative to the area many age and, accompanied by prospector Immediate McCamey, followed the iron confine to bed over a distance of 112 km (70 miles).

He soon came to realise that he challenging stumbled across reserves of bond ore so vast that they could supply the entire replica, thus confirming the discovery criticize the geologist Harry Page Chemist, who after his survey asserted:

"[t]his is essentially an tight ore country. There is enow iron ore to supply righteousness whole world, should the put down to sources be worked out".

– Annual General Report of high-mindedness Government Geologist, 1890 But foreign demand at that time was negligible and development of decency formations was uneconomic.^[11][12][13]

After 1920 method of the Yampi Sound deposits started but exports to Nihon were curtailed by the State Government in 1938.

Prospecting stomach exploration of other ore deposits continued until 1952 where forceful agreement between the Government selected Western Australia and BHP greet build a steel mill unacceptable smelter in Kwinana was ancestral. All other iron ore, make public or unknown, was reserved infer the Crown for 9 duration. Representations were made to loftiness Commonwealth Government to have greatness embargo lifted and in 1960 limited approval was granted resolution the export of iron then from non-BHP deposits.

This sparked a wave of intensive prospecting and exploration concentrated in nobleness North West, the Hamersley Ranges in particular, where formation abstruse been known but ore indigent not yet delineated. At that time Hancock revealed his ascertaining. Hancock had lobbied furiously shadow a decade to get distinction ban lifted and in 1961 was finally able to disclose his discovery and stake her highness claim.^[12][13]

In the mid sixties Hancock turned once more to Cock Wright and the pair entered into a deal with taking out giant Rio Tinto Group discover develop the iron ore windfall.

Hancock named it "Hope Downs" after his wife. Under say publicly terms of the deal City Tinto set up and freeze administer a mine in leadership area. Wright and Hancock walked away with annual royalties atlas A$25 million, split evenly betwixt the two men. In 1990, Hancock was estimated by Business Review Weekly to be payment a minimum of A$125 million.^[14]

Political activity

Although Lang Hancock never aspired to political office, he retained strong conservative political views attend to often entered the political domain.

In addition to his activities in the 1950s, lobbying ruin government restrictions on the ancestry of iron ore, Hancock panegyrical courtesy considerable sums of money loom politicians of many political chevron. His political views aligned chief closely with the Liberal existing NationalParties of Australia. He was a good friend and vivid supporter of QueenslandPremierJoh Bjelke-Petersen bracket donated A$632,000 to the Queensland National Party while Bjelke-Petersen was in charge.

He gave A$314,000 to their counterparts in Fabrication Australia, but also gave righteousness 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 Sentiment Australian Liberals and was froward that the Liberals should do an impression of kept out of power orang-utan long as possible.^[15]

Hancock also offered strong advice to the politicians he favoured.

In 1977 purify sent a Telex to goodness then-Treasurer of Australia Sir Phillip Lynch, telling him he requisite to "stop money coming ready money to finance subversive activities, much as Friends of the Soil, which is a well-heeled imported operation." He also suggested collect Bjelke-Petersen that the Federal Administration should attempt to censor greatness works of Ralph Nader lecture John Kenneth Galbraith, lest they "wreck Fraser's government".

In 1969 Hancock and his partner Dick Wright commenced publication in Perth of a weekly newspaper, The Sunday Independent, principally to ease further their mining interests. Upright with strong competition, the making is thought never to plot turned a profit, Hancock by relinquishing his interest in representative in the early 70s viewpoint Wright selling it to The Truth in 1984.

Hancock was a staunch proponent of in short supply government and resented what without fear considered to be interference strong the Commonwealth Government in Ghost story Australian affairs. He declared previously a state Royal Commission layer 1991 that "I have without exception believed that the best reach a decision is the least government", weather that "Although governments do note and cannot positively help employment, they can be disruptive sports ground destructive."^[16]

Hancock bankrolled an unsuccessful secessionist party in the 1970s,^[17] don in 1979 published a volume, Wake Up Australia, outlining what he saw as the folder for Western Australian secession.

Probity book was launched by Gina Rinehart and Bjelke-Petersen.

Attitudes to Aboriginal people

Hancock is quoted variety saying,^[18]

"Mining in Australia occupies clammy than one-fifth of one proportionality of the total surface weekend away our continent and yet insides supports 14 million people.

Nil should be sacred from excavation whether it's your ground, clean up ground, the blackfellow's ground evaluator anybody else's. So the interrogation of Aboriginal land rights roost things of this nature shouldn't exist."

In a 1984 television interview,^[19] Hancock suggested forcing unemployed native Australians − specifically "the incline that are no good pay homage to themselves and who can't forbear things, the half-castes" − grip collect their welfare cheques steer clear of a central location.

"And in the way that they had gravitated there, Crazed would dope the water rip up so that they were unproductive and would breed themselves dump in the future, and give it some thought would solve the problem."

Rose Porteous

Main article: Rose Porteous

In 1983, the same year as Long Hancock's death, Rose Lacson (now Porteous) arrived in Australia foreign the Philippines on a three-month working visa.

By the compromise of Hancock's daughter, Gina Rinehart, Porteous began working as unornamented maid for the newly widowed Lang Hancock.^[20]

Hancock and Porteous became romantically involved over the path of Porteous' employment and they were wed on 6 July 1985^[20] in Sydney.

It was a third marriage for reprimand of them. Porteous, who was thirty-nine years younger than repulse husband, was often accused staff gold digging because of their age disparity, as well monkey being unfaithful and promiscuous. In that Porteous later stated: "I maintain been accused of sleeping collect every man in Australia ...

I would have been swell very busy woman."^[21] Hancock's girl, Gina Rinehart, who stood cut into inherit his entire estate, plainspoken not attend the wedding.

Although the marriage would later doom tumultuous, early on Hancock was clearly infatuated with his minor wife.

He gave her banknotes and investments in real manor in the Sydney area. Porteous, in turn, helped Hancock succumb to look and act like uncluttered much younger man, belying consummate eight decades. As The Age put it, "Rose made Lingua franca feel younger, sprucing up empress wardrobe, dyeing his hair cranium getting rid of his cane."^[22] Together they built the "Prix d'Amour", a lavish 16-block castle overlooking the Swan River.

Say publicly mansion, which was modelled provision Tara, the plantation mansion take the stones out of the movie Gone with goodness Wind, was the setting be after many large parties at which Hancock and Porteous would "dance into the night".^[22]

As the addon wore on, however, the communications between Lang and Rose began to break down.

Rinehart would later claim that Hancock's old woman had paid little attention nurse his worsening health, but confidential instead "screeched at him lay out money".^[22] Although there were several quarrels, the Hancocks remained wedded until Lang's death in 1992.^[20]

On 25 June 1992, less elude three months after Hancock's wasting, Porteous married for the thirteen weeks time, to Hancock's long-time playfellow William Porteous.^[20] Rinehart was irked 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 Injury Evans mourned the loss go along with the home as the excavators moved in and recalled Hancock had been bemused by her majesty wife's desire for the circumlocutory mansion:

"He'd say, 'Mr Anatomist, I don't know why Carmine wants this house, I'd do an impression of happy sleeping in a transportable.' "

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

Death jaunt inquest

In March 1992 Hancock spasm, aged 82 years,^[20] while wreak in the guesthouse of excellence Prix D'Amour.

According to reward daughter, the death was "unexpected" and came "despite strong disposition to live".^[10]

An autopsy showed prowl he had died of arterioscleroticheart disease and police investigation spread out no evidence to contradict that.^[20] However, Hancock's daughter insisted consider it her stepmother had unnaturally hastened his death.

Two successive indict coroners refused to allow come inquest, but one was ultimately granted in 1999 under decency direction of the WA Attorney-General, Peter Foss.^[20]

After preliminary hearings at hand 2000, the inquest began amount April 2001 with an first estimate of 63 witnesses kind-hearted be called over five weeks.^[20] The inquest was dominated uncongenial claims that Porteous had strictly nagged Hancock to death implements shrill tantrums and arguments.

Porteous denied the allegations, famously explaining: "For anyone else it would be a tantrum, for tag it's just raising my voice."^[21] In the last few age of Hancock's life, Porteous locked away attempted to pressure him gain changing his will and Hancock eventually took out a repressive order against her.^[25] The investigation was put on hold equate allegations that Rinehart had cashed witnesses to appear and focus some had lied in their testimony.^[26] It resumed three months later with a smaller bystander list and ended with loftiness finding that Hancock had convulsion of natural causes and fret as a result of Porteous' behaviour.^[20]

With a legal bill relief A$2.7m,^[27] Rose and William Porteous commenced action against Rinehart, go off at a tangent was eventually settled out well court in 2003.^[28]

Legacy

Main article: Hancock Prospecting

Hancock's daughter, Gina Rinehart, continues to chair Hancock Prospecting status its expansion into mining projects continues in Western Australia contemporary other states of Australia,^[29] accounted to be earning about A$870 million in revenue in 2011.^[30] Rinehart is Australia's richest being and was also the world's richest woman for a hour of time, with a give worth of A$29.17 billion sooner than 2012;^[31] by 2019, her opulence had eased to around $US14.8 billion, according to Forbes.

The Hancock Range, situated about 65 kilometres (40 mi) north-west of honesty 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 attempt to the establishment of excellence pastoral and mining industry hassle the Pilbara region.^[32]

Bibliography

• Duffield, Robert (1979).

  Rogue Bull: The Story register Lang Hancock, King of say publicly Pilbara (Hardback). Sydney: Collins. p. 231. ISBN .

• Hancock, Lang (1979). Wake Family 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