Neil Balnaves: The Mosman Philanthropist Who Changed Australian Arts & TV

From Bananas in Pyjamas to major arts philanthropy, Neil Balnaves left a legacy that shaped Australia’s cultural landscape.

By Tahney Fosdike 

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Suburbs are more than their houses, businesses and parks. They are communities shaped by the people who live there and the legacies they leave behind. In Mosman, Neil Richard Balnaves AO is one icon that’s left a lasting impact, not just on the suburb, but on the greater Australian community. 

Neil Balnaves

Balnaves was a renowned film and TV executive best known for bringing household shows to our lounge room screens, as well as for his equally significant philanthropic contributions, donating more than $20 million to arts organisations during his lifetime. 

Neil Balnaves - Early Childhood & Career

He was born a middle child in 1944 in Adelaide, with a bout of polio as a teenager, leaving a mark on his approach to life. In the 1960s and 70s, he married Diane, whom he owed his love of the arts, and climbed the ranks in media and advertising, finding himself in Sydney, then Mosman, en route, where he set up home for the rest of his life. 

Balnaves’ career spanned six decades, founding the Southern Star Group (a rebranded buyout of the Taft-Hardie Group, later renamed Endemol Shine Australia), which was behind hit productions like Water Rats, McLeod's Daughters, Big Brother, and Bananas in Pyjamas. 

He also chaired Ardent Leisure Group, responsible for theme parks like Queensland’s Dreamworld. A large part of his success, it’s argued, emerged from a decision in 1979 to recognise the importance of video, leading to him partnering with Paramount Pictures and MCA Universal, two of Hollywood’s largest studios, in one of his best ventures. 

He was also Chancellor of Charles Darwin University (2016 - 18), Director and Trustee Member of Bond University, and a Board Member of the Art Gallery of South Australia (2013 - 19), amongst other credits. 

Turning to Philanthropy

Simply, he was a powerhouse in his professional life, but one with heart. In 2002, after a near-death boating accident that left him on life support with over 40 broken bones, he decided to put his energy into philanthropy. 

“As you can imagine, I had a lot of time to think throughout this period,” he told The Advertiser in 2011. “And what I came to was this: How many more houses do I need? Do I want the jet plane? Do I want another yacht? Not really. There comes a time when those things stop meaning so much to you.”

These weren’t just words, but action: he sold his stake in Southern Star Group and founded the Balnaves Foundation in 2006. Working closely with his family, Balnaves focused on giving back to the medical field and improving access to education and the arts. The foundation also supported First Nations communities, young people, and those facing disadvantage.

“I give because I’ve been lucky in this country,” Balnaves once said. “I’ve been fortunate to make more money than I can use.”

The foundation backed initiatives like Sculpture by the Sea, Sydney Dance Company, and Kaldor Public Art Projects. Yet Balnaves’ giving wasn’t box-ticking exercise, but genuine advocacy. In 2017, he withdrew support from the Venice Biennale, opposing policy changes by the Australia Council for the Arts.

“We are trying to bring about a sea change in Australia’s attitude to art,” he explained. “It should not be on a pedestal; it should be something for everybody.”

In 2010, Balnaves was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for his philanthropic contributions to the arts, education, medical research, and Indigenous programs. That same year,  the long-term Mosman resident pledged a million dollars worth of paintings from his art collection, including 16 significant Australian Impressionist and early 20th-century artworks, to Mosman Art Gallery - the most important donation ever to be received by Mosman Council.

Tragically, in 2022, two decades after the accident that inspired his philanthropic journey, Balnaves passed away in another boating accident in Tahiti. Today, however, his surviving children and one of his grandchildren still run the foundation, continuing his vision to “create a better Australia”.

As well, more recently, his legacy has also been continued by The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, with The Neil Balnaves Tallawoladah Lawn Commission. The large-scale sculptural work supported by The Balnaves Foundation celebrates his life and pays tribute to his vision and contributions to the arts in Australia.

“I’m a great believer in doing by example,” Balnaves once said, “and I hope hundreds will follow what I do.”