John Roberts (Australian businessman)

John Charles Roberts AO (23 January 1934 - 8 June 2006[1]) was an Australian businessman who was the founding chairman and an executive director of construction company Multiplex.

For other people named John Roberts, see John Roberts (disambiguation).
John Roberts

AO
Born
John Charles Roberts

(1934-01-23)23 January 1934
Died8 June 2006(2006-06-08) (aged 72)
Perth, Western Australia
NationalityAustralian
OccupationEntrepreneur and company director
Years active1962 – 2005
Known forMultiplex
Spouse(s)
Angela Egerton-Warburton
​
​
(m. 1964; dissolved 1999)​
Children
  • Andrew Roberts
  • Tim Roberts
  • Denby Macgregor
Awards

Early life and career

On leaving school he worked in the construction industry in Broken Hill in New South Wales between 1951 and 1958. From 1959 to 1961 he worked on the Menindee irrigation system and the pumping station which brought water from the Darling River to Broken Hill.

Multiplex

Roberts established Multiplex Constructions Pty Limited in 1962. He was Chief Executive between 1962 and 2003 and Chairman until 2005. As Perth boomed, Multiplex expanded nationally across Australia and then internationally. It built Telstra Stadium in Sydney Olympic Park which was the main stadium for the 2000 Summer Olympics.[1]

Multiplex successfully bid for the A$1.2 billion project to rebuild Wembley Stadium. However, this project was plagued by cost overruns and missed deadlines leading to his resignation as Executive Chairman in 2005. In 2006, the BRW Rich List estimated his net worth at A$740 million, down from A$1.1 billion the previous year.[2] A year after his death, the Roberts family sold out of Multiplex in 2007, with its controlling interest acquired by Canada's Brookfield Asset Management group.[3][4]

Awards

In 1988, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for service to the construction industry and to the sport of horse racing.[5] Roberts was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2001.[6]

Roberts was inducted into the Property Council of Australia Hall of Fame in August 2017;[7] eleven years after he accepted the invitation, planned to be awarded in August 2006.[1]

Personal life

Roberts married Angela Egerton-Warburton in 1964 with the marriage being dissolved in 1999. His children are Andrew Roberts, Tim Roberts, and Denby Macgregor.[8]

He was a keen supporter of horse racing serving as the Chairman of the Western Australian Turf Club between 1984 and 1987. He served on the committee between 1971 and 1987.[1]

Roberts died at his home in Perth at the age of 72 after a long battle with diabetes.[1][9]

References
  1. Steffens, Miriam (9 June 2006). "Multiplex founder Roberts dies at 72". The West Australian. Retrieved 12 June 2006 – via The Age.
  2. "Multiplex founder John Roberts dies". The Sydney Morning Herald. 9 June 2006. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  3. "Roberts Family Cashes Out Of Australia's Multiplex". Forbes. 12 June 2007. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  4. "Your directors unanimously recommend that you accept the Brookfield offer". Multiplex. Archived from the original on 29 August 2007.
  5. "Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) entry for Mr John Charles ROBERTS". It's an Honour, Australian Honours Database. Canberra, Australia: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 13 June 1988. Retrieved 16 November 2020. AO. QB88. FOR SERVICE TO THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY AND TO THE SPORT OF HORSE RACING.
  6. "Centenary Medal entry for Mr John Charles ROBERTS". It's an Honour, Australian Honours Database. Canberra, Australia: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 1 January 2001. Retrieved 16 November 2020. For service to the building and construction industry.
  7. Roberts, Andrew (August 2017). Acceptance Speech by Andrew Roberts on behalf of his late father, John Roberts AO (PDF) (Speech). Property Council of Australia Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Burswood Casino, Perth, Western Australia. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  8. Who's Who in Australia 2006. North Melbourne: Crown Content. p. 1668.
  9. Turnbull, Jeff (9 June 2006). "Multiplex founder John Roberts dies". Herald Sun. Retrieved 12 June 2006.
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