The ‘architect of modern Queensland’ farewelled in Brisbane

The decorated public servant credited with transforming Queensland into a modern, 21st-century state has been remembered for his pioneering vision for the state, his love for his family – and for some of the finer things in life.

Sir Leo Hielscher died earlier this month, aged 98.

Shortly after Sir Leo’s death, Premier David Crisafulli offered his family a state funeral, which was held at Brisbane’s City Hall on Thursday afternoon.

Addressing the mourners, Crisafulli said Sir Leo was one of the architects of Queensland’s growth into the 21st century.

“His legacy is the Queensland we see today – a modern, vibrant state with a glowing and growing international reputation as a great place for business, trade and tourism, for education,” he said.

“As an economic visionary, Sir Leo shaped modern-day Queensland, masterminded many of the major infrastructure developments that we use every day, but which we might take for granted.

“The word ‘great’ is often overused, but there is no better description of the man Sir Leo Hielscher. His achievements of greatness as a family man, greatness as a public servant, greatness as the architect of modern Queensland – we can only wonder about the accomplishments of one person.”

Along with platitudes, there were also anecdotes that brought some laughter to an otherwise sombre affair.

One of Crisafulli’s predecessors, former Labor premier Anna Bligh, said Sir Leo had once told her “with great relish” a story about organising a Queensland Treasury Corporation investor road trip to Paris with the then-treasurer, the late Keith De Lacy.

“Keith was the first Labor treasurer in 32 years, and this was his first trip into global markets,” she said.

“After perusing the proposed itinerary, he noticed that Leo had booked them into the Ritz Hotel in Paris.

“Keith called Leo into his office and explained that, as a Labor minister, he couldn’t possibly be seen to be staying at the Ritz, that it was likely to cause much unwanted media attention and that ordinary ALP members would not think well of him swanning about at the Ritz.”

Understanding De Lacy’s predicament, Sir Leo dutifully agreed to arrange alternative accommodation “that he was certain neither the treasurer nor any Queenslanders had ever heard of”.

“He was secretly delighted when no mention was ever made in the press that the treasurer had stayed at the Hotel de Crillon, which sits grandly at the top of the Place de la Concorde and was – and when I checked earlier this week, remains – a more expensive hotel than the Paris Ritz.”

But mostly, Sir Leo was remembered on Thursday as a husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather – with a love of his state, and a good Scotch whisky.

“When I was younger, I never fully understood the magnitude of his achievements and status in the corporate world,” his grandson, Lyndon Phipps, said.

“To me, he was simply granddad.

“He away with work a lot of the time – flying around the world for lunches and dinners didn’t seem like very hard work to me back then.

“He would always send postcards from around the globe telling me what he’d been up to, and he returned home with souvenirs from countries he had visited and, when he was home, he made a big effort to be a part of my life.”

Among the other dignitaries present were former premiers Steven Miles, Campbell Newman and Rob Borbidge, Governor Jeannette Young and former governor Paul de Jersey, along with current and former ministers from both sides of politics.

Born in Eumundi in 1926, Sir Leo spent almost seven decades in the public service, including leading the establishment of the QTC in 1988, having started with the state audit office as a 15-year-old in 1942.

As a public servant, Sir Leo served as Queensland’s Deputy Under Treasurer and Under Treasurer, reporting to 10 premiers and 15 treasurers from both sides of politics.

He was the QTC’s foundation chairman – a position he held for 22 years before his 2010 retirement.

Sir Leo was credited with establishing Gladstone as an industrial and resources hub, negotiating key contracts with mining companies to secure royalties for taxpayers, facilitating the development of Griffith University, Queensland’s casino industry and two coal terminals and established the Queensland Treasury Corporation.

He also played a pivotal role in delivering the 1982 Commonwealth Games and World Expo ’88, both held in Brisbane and held up as city-shaping events.

With bipartisan support, then-premier Bligh named the toll road bridges that carry the Gateway Motorway in his honour upon his retirement.

In 2019, a portrait of Hielscher won the packing room prize in the inaugural Brisbane Portrait Prize.

On Thursday, that very portrait loomed large over Sir Leo’s casket as the state he helped build bid him farewell.

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