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Well done MAK on donating Alan Bond's picture to Kalgoorlie-Boulder...end of an era.
Alan Bond's 'worthless' yet 'priceless' prison portrait of Kalgoorlie brothel madam to find new home
Link not working so taken down
Posted 11hhours ago, updated Yesterday
Madam Mary-Anne Kenworthy donated the portrait of close friend Leigh Varis-Beswick to the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.(ABC Goldfields-Esperance: Jarrod Lucas)
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The brothel is set to become workers' accommodation after being sold for $1 million.
Madam Mary-Anne Kenworthy commissioned the artwork after her close friend became the first transgendered woman elected to the Kalgoorlie-Boulder City Council in 1999.
She decided to donate the piece to the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder to ensure it was displayed, describing it as both "worthless" and "priceless".
"It was painted by Alan Bond when he was in prison and I think it would be appropriate for it to stay here, with Leigh being a city councillor," Ms Kenworthy said.
Brothel madam Leigh Varis-Beswick in 2011 when she announced her retirement.(ABC Goldfields-Esperance: Emma Wynne)
As a councillor, Ms Varis-Beswick was at loggerheads with local religious groups over the decision to change zoning requirements to allow construction of the $2.3 million Langtrees bordello and museum in 2000.
After growing up in Boulder as a boy, she underwent a sex change operation in her mid-30s and worked on Hay Street as a sex worker before spending 20 years as a madam.
Kalgoorlie-Boulder Mayor John Bowler said the portrait combined the stories of two unique characters and would be displayed proudly.
He said he went to school with Ms Varis-Beswick, when she was known as Harry.
"We've got a massive collection of paintings and we're very proud of the collection that we've built up over the years," he said.
Alan Bond in 1980.(National Library Of Australia.)
A former London signwriter, Bond reportedly produced about 50 works during his time in jail.
They included a portrait of West Coast Eagles premiership star Peter Matera, which Ms Kenworthy bought at auction for $25,000.
She displayed it in the "Alan Bond cigar lounge" at Langtrees before selling it for just $7,000 when she closed the brothel in 2012.
Bond, who died aged 77 in 2015, was best known for financing Australia's successful bid for the 1983 America's Cup before his business empire crumbled.
His love of art also saw him purchase Vincent van Gogh's Irises for $54 million in 1987, which at the time was the highest price ever paid for a painting.
Bond's legacy in Kalgoorlie-Boulder lives on, as is considered the architect of the Super Pit, which combines dozens of underground mines on the area's famous Golden Mile into a single open pit.
Last year, the Super Pit was sold back into full Australian ownership for the first time in 30 years after gold miners Northern Star Resources and Saracen Mineral Holdings each paid more than $1.1 billion for 50 per cent stakes.
The mine has produced more than 21 million ounces of gold since 1989.
"Alan Bond amalgamated the tenements on the Golden Mile which made the Super Pit a possibility," Mr Bowler said.
Alan Bond's 'worthless' yet 'priceless' prison portrait of Kalgoorlie brothel madam to find new home
Link not working so taken down
Posted 11hhours ago, updated Yesterday
Madam Mary-Anne Kenworthy donated the portrait of close friend Leigh Varis-Beswick to the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.(ABC Goldfields-Esperance: Jarrod Lucas)
Share
The brothel is set to become workers' accommodation after being sold for $1 million.
Madam Mary-Anne Kenworthy commissioned the artwork after her close friend became the first transgendered woman elected to the Kalgoorlie-Boulder City Council in 1999.
She decided to donate the piece to the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder to ensure it was displayed, describing it as both "worthless" and "priceless".
"It was painted by Alan Bond when he was in prison and I think it would be appropriate for it to stay here, with Leigh being a city councillor," Ms Kenworthy said.
Brothel madam Leigh Varis-Beswick in 2011 when she announced her retirement.(ABC Goldfields-Esperance: Emma Wynne)
As a councillor, Ms Varis-Beswick was at loggerheads with local religious groups over the decision to change zoning requirements to allow construction of the $2.3 million Langtrees bordello and museum in 2000.
After growing up in Boulder as a boy, she underwent a sex change operation in her mid-30s and worked on Hay Street as a sex worker before spending 20 years as a madam.
Kalgoorlie-Boulder Mayor John Bowler said the portrait combined the stories of two unique characters and would be displayed proudly.
He said he went to school with Ms Varis-Beswick, when she was known as Harry.
"We've got a massive collection of paintings and we're very proud of the collection that we've built up over the years," he said.
"Great characters, part of Western Australian history, certainly Goldfields history, and I'm not sure there's any other paintings in our collection which have such interesting characters and backgrounds to the actual paintings."
Alan Bond in 1980.(National Library Of Australia.)
A former London signwriter, Bond reportedly produced about 50 works during his time in jail.
They included a portrait of West Coast Eagles premiership star Peter Matera, which Ms Kenworthy bought at auction for $25,000.
She displayed it in the "Alan Bond cigar lounge" at Langtrees before selling it for just $7,000 when she closed the brothel in 2012.
Bond, who died aged 77 in 2015, was best known for financing Australia's successful bid for the 1983 America's Cup before his business empire crumbled.
His love of art also saw him purchase Vincent van Gogh's Irises for $54 million in 1987, which at the time was the highest price ever paid for a painting.
Bond's legacy in Kalgoorlie-Boulder lives on, as is considered the architect of the Super Pit, which combines dozens of underground mines on the area's famous Golden Mile into a single open pit.
Last year, the Super Pit was sold back into full Australian ownership for the first time in 30 years after gold miners Northern Star Resources and Saracen Mineral Holdings each paid more than $1.1 billion for 50 per cent stakes.
The mine has produced more than 21 million ounces of gold since 1989.
"Alan Bond amalgamated the tenements on the Golden Mile which made the Super Pit a possibility," Mr Bowler said.
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reading this.