Winifred Schubert (1938 – 6 April 2017) was an Australian businesswoman and philanthropist.
She is best known for making expensive contributions to art galleries particularly to the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA).
Business
In the 1970s Schubert owned an empire of 32 fashion boutiques in South East Queensland including in Toowoomba, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
In 1985, she established Art Galleries Schubert on the Gold Coast which closed in 2009.
Recognition
In 2012, QAGOMA named some of its galleries the Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Galleries in honour of Schubert's benefaction. Ulrick was a close friend of Schuberts and was curator and co-director at Art Galleries Schubert until her death in 1997.
In 2014, Schubert was named as a Queensland Great. She was also made an Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2014 Queen's Birthday Honours in recognition of her service to the community as a supporter and benefactor of Australian artists and art galleries.
In 2020, the Schubert Circle was established at QAGOMA to recognise other individuals who have made provisions for QAGOMA to be in their will.
Personal life and death
For over 40 years, Schubert was in a long-term de facto relationship with Agnes Tatay who died in 2015.
Schubert died on 6 April 2017 at the age of 89 following a stroke. Following her death, Schubert's stepdaughter Suzzen Tatay contested Schubert's will arguing she was entitled to some of Schubert's $30 million estate.
Three years after Schubert's death, QAGOMA received a $35 million bequest from her estate which was the biggest single cash gift in the 125-year history of the gallery.