Robert Oatley AO

Australia has farewelled an outstanding man and a great Australian with the passing of Robert Oatley AO, BEM. Known to most as Bob, and to family and close friends as Popeye, Mr Oatley passed away aged 87 after a life where he distinguished himself as a tremendously successful businessman, philanthropist and patron of the arts.

A renowned yachtsman and owner of the iconic Wild Oats XI, his passion for sailing was matched only by his devotion to his family, his business acumen well documented from humble beginnings working for Sydney businessman Rupert Alexander Colyer, to establishing a succession of successful businesses of his own throughout his life.

Bob Oatley achieved his first great success trading coffee and cocoa beans in Papua New Guinea before turning his attention to the wine industry – a passion he held all of his life. He founded Rosemount Estates wine company and built it into a flourishing private company over 30 years before ultimately selling it to Southcorp in 2001.

From the wine business and his beloved Hunter Valley, Oatley then took a completely different direction, buying Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays and establishing the property as an iconic Australian resort destination.

Here he was able to indulge his passion for sailing and as well as establishing the landmark qualia resort, 18 hole championship course on Dent Island and the unique Hamilton Island Yacht Club, Oatley and his family developed the Hamilton Island Race Week into the country’s largest offshore regatta. It was in this capacity that Audi Australia entered into partnership with Bob Oatley and the family, with Audi becoming the major sponsor of the regatta – a partnership that continues to thrive a decade later.

During that time too, Oatley turned his attention again to the wine industry and in 2006 established a new wine company with Robert Oatley Vineyards, based in the family’s vineyards in Mudgee NSW as well as vineyards in Western Australia.

Throughout this time his passion for sailing never wained. With the supermaxi Wild Oats XI, Bob Oatley won eight line honours in the coveted Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, as well as numerous major races around the world. His passion for sailing extended to aiding the sport in general, the Australian Olympic sailing team’s success in Beijing and London, due in no small part to Oatley’s support.

"Yachting Australia and the Australian Olympic Team are hugely indebted to Bob for his contribution to sailing and our Olympic effort,” said John Coates, President of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC).

"His drive paved the way for our excellent results in sailing at the 2008 Games in Beijing and again at London in 2012.”

Oatley was happy not only to support the Australian team but to offer them the use of the sailing facilities at Hamilton Island for training purposes – and all of this was done without fanfare or publicity, as was the Bob Oatley way.

But as much as Bob Oatley shunned publicity, his generous contributions to medical research, support of Australia’s yachting fraternity and support of the arts could not go unnoticed. He garnered many awards and accolades in his life including a British Empire Medal (BEM), and was named Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2014 for ‘distinguished service to the Australian wine and tourism industries and to the sport of yacht racing’.

As recently as last October, Yachting Australia honoured Oatley with a lifetime achievement award for his contribution to sailing, and though his beloved Wild Oats XI was unable to make it nine line honours victories in this year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart due to sail damage, Oatley’s only concern was for the safety of the crew.

A proud Australian who made his own way in life and built an empire and a great sailing tradition. The country is all the poorer for his passing, but his legacy lives on through his family and through the many people and organisations he helped throughout his life.