Brisbane business and finance industry identity Steve Wilson will host the third and final book launch for his biography, Little City, Big Dreams, at Avid Reader next Thursday 20 November. Author of the book, Michael Blucher, will join Steve in conversation on the evening.
I met Steve this week at the new family home, `Home’ at Kangaroo Point, ahead of this final book launch next week. Disarmingly down to earth and hands on, Steve was pulling apart boxes and disposing of them in the yellow wheelie bin in the lane beside his house as I arrived. Not exactly the welcome I was expecting, but characteristic of his can-do, let’s get-it-done approach to life.
I had recently finished reading Little City, Big Dreams which I was keen to do before catching up for a chat. I picked up a copy at the second book launch, held at `Home’ in September, with business, sporting and media identities in attendance. Steve had signed my copy with the words, `Great magazine’ in support of The West End Magazine; indicative of Steve’s appreciation and support of what he would call a `goer’ (someone who has a go and gets things done). Where there’s a will, there’s a way, he might say.
Steve and wife Jane bought the historic and iconic but dilapidated former Lamb House, where they now live, from its longtime owner Joy Lamb. They have recently completed a major restoration of the property, also purchasing the adjoining home to create a new family compound. Builders are currently busy on site doing further renovations and extensions to increase the amenity of the residences. The second house provides an extended home for visiting friends and relatives. The Wilsons recently hosted five couples from the UK who were in town for a major sporting event. This pair do not do things by halves. Everything is large scale.
Life also never stands still for the Wilsons who have recently returned from an extended stay abroad visiting family and catching up with colleagues in London and New York. And doing a little fundraising along the way.
Ever on the move, Steve confided that he has just stepped down from his role as Chair of Racing Queensland, and also recently completed his tenure as head of the Committee for Brisbane, formerly known as the Brisbane Development Association. He began his career in the multi-generation family stockbroking firm, Wilsons. Over time, Steve’s business interests extended into a highly successful complementary funds management business.
Such is Wilson’s influence in Brisbane business circles, and vision for the future of our great city, that he continues to be courted and consulted on major projects. Always the big picture thinker, he advocates for Brisbane to become a super city extending from the Sunshine to Gold Coast and sees this as a natural progression for the growth of the region as we head towards the Brisbane Olympics in 2032.
He notes he was the first to suggest the Golden Triangle of Sporting Stadiums including The Gabba, Lang Park (now Suncorp Stadium) and Victoria Park. Another great idea.
Formerly the Chairman of South Bank Parklands, Wilson was appointed in 1996 to reimagine the site post Expo 88 after its first incarnation was faltering. He was integral in the vision that’s created the success it is today.
On a smaller scale, Steve and Jane have created their own lifestyle precinct at nearby Woolloongabba around their restaurant C’est Bon and adjoining businesses. Also in the foodie space, they invested in their own winery, Barambah in the South Burnett region several hours north-west of Brisbane.
Now in his early 70s, Steve Wilson continues to engage with visionary projects and dialogues around our great city, though not linked as a voice for particular organisations these days. The flexibility to pursue his agendas without formal ties is suiting him well, he says. Wilson also keeps an active hand in business and philanthropy though his directorships of various organisations.
Additionally, he and Jane have the extension of the `Home’ project at home, which looks likely to keep his hands full on account of the number of workmen on site at the moment. Steve is currently focused on his lifelong passions for rugby and rowing, with visions for world-class facilities for both – he is busy fundraising for a world-best clubhouse for UQ Rugby and advocating for a world-class rowing regatta for Brisbane, which he promises is going to come to fruition and is soon to be announced.
Steve assures me the upcoming book launch will be his final, as he’s ready to turn his attention to something new. He says the book started out as a record for his family to pass down through the generations as an eternal legacy. When friends and associates showed an interest in receiving copies of the biography, the project took on a larger life.
“You should write a book,” he said. “Everyone has a story to tell.” I agree with him. I remember back to our first edition of The West End Magazine when readers commended us on how fabulous the magazine was but wondered where we would find enough stories for a second edition. Fifteen years later, there has never been a shortage of local stories to tell.
The Wilsons lived on Dornoch Terrace at Highgate Hill for several decades after returning from careers abroad, before recently moving to `Home’. They were and continue to be part of a long-term neighbourhood social group called the Highgate Hillbillies, a collective of friends whose children were at kindy and school together in the first instance.
The people and the places of this great city are close to Steve Wilson’s heart, and with his abundant energy and enthusiasm there will undoubtedly be many more interesting stories to tell and chapters to write in his colourful journey through life.
