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David Walsh (art collector)

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David Dominic Walsh
Born1961
Known forArt collector, professional gambler, businessman

David Dominic Walsh AO (born 1961[1]) is an Australian professional gambler, art collector and businessman. He is the owner of the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) and Moorilla Estate.[2]

Background

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Walsh grew up in a Roman Catholic family in the Glenorchy district of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, the youngest of three children. He attended Dominic College, and the University of Tasmania, where he briefly studied mathematics and computer science in 1979.[3] Walsh made his fortune by developing a gambling system used to bet on horse racing and other sports.

Walsh describes himself as a "rabid atheist".[1] He has been married twice, the second time in March 2014, to artist Kirsha Kaechele. He has three children from different relationships,[3][4] including one with Kaechele.[5]

In 2001, he founded the Moorilla Museum of Antiquities on the Berriedale peninsula in Hobart, which closed in 2007 to undergo $75 million renovations. It was re-opened in January 2011 as the Museum of Old and New Art[6] or MONA. MONA won the 2012 Australian Tourism Award for best new development and is a major Tasmanian tourist attraction.

In 2009, Walsh and his syndicate reportedly won $16–17 million over the Melbourne Cup Carnival.[7]

In July 2012, Walsh was involved in a dispute with the Australian Tax Office, which demanded he pay $37 million from the profits of his gambling system.[8][9]

In October 2014, Walsh's book A Bone of Fact was published. The publisher described it as Walsh's "utterly unconventional and absorbing memoir".[10]

In the 2016 Australia Day Honours, Walsh was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for "distinguished service to the visual arts through the establishment of MONA, and as a supporter of cultural, charitable, sporting and education groups".[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b "The Collector". Melbourne: The Age. 14 April 2007.
  2. ^ "Our mystery billionaire?". SmartCompany.com.au. 10 August 2009. Archived from the original on 26 January 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
  3. ^ a b Denholm, Matthew (19 January 2011). "Temple of David". The Weekend Australian Magazine. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  4. ^ Paine, Michelle (23 March 2014). "David Walsh's wedding party a real show-stopper". The Mercury. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  5. ^ David Walsh (21 July 2015). "Introducing Sunday". MONA Blog. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016.
  6. ^ "A revolt in art". The Age. Melbourne. 15 January 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
  7. ^ "Big-time gambler David Walsh details how betting syndicate won $17 million on 2009 Melbourne Cup". Fox Sports. 25 July 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  8. ^ Adrian Lowe and Andrew Darby (25 July 2012). "Support floods in for MONA founder in tax row". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  9. ^ "Big-time gambler David Walsh details how betting syndicate won $17 million on 2009 Melbourne Cup". Fox Sports. 25 July 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  10. ^ David Walsh (2014). A Bone of Fact. Australia: Pan Macmillan. ISBN 9781742612911.
  11. ^ Davey, Melissa; Brereton, Adam. "Australia Day honours: David Walsh and Elizabeth Broderick among recipients". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 December 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
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