Terry Snow

Terry Snow was the grandson of Canberra's first general store owner.{{cite news |author=Gibbs, Sam |url=https://www.fpmagazine.com.au/garden-chat-cultivates-8-million-for-canberra-grammar-337230/ |title=Garden chat cultivates $8 million for Canberra Grammar |work=Fundraising & Philanthropy Magazine |date=1 August 2013 |access-date=29 September 2019}} His parents owned a hotel in Queanbeyan and the young Snow attended Canberra Grammar School, initially as a boarder. He subsequently supported the school through a number of significant philanthropic gifts. Snow died on 3 August 2024, at the age of 80.[https://citynews.com.au/2024/philanthropist-and-business-leader-terry-snow-dead-at-80/ Philanthropist and business leader Terry Snow dead at 80]

Snow was Executive Chairman of the Capital Airport Group,{{cite web |url=http://www.canberraairport.com.au/air_aboutAirport/board.cfm |title=Board of Directors |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717182252/http://www.canberraairport.com.au/air_aboutAirport/board.cfm |archive-date=17 July 2011 |publisher=Canberra Airport Group |access-date=23 August 2009 }}{{self-published-inline|date=December 2020}} the company which owns the lease for the land which contains Canberra Airport and Brindabella Business Park.{{cite interview |url=http://www.abc.net.au/stateline/act/content/2003/s1080894.htm |title=Brindabella Park |interviewer=Kathleen Hyland |subject=Troy, Patrick |work=Stateline, New South Wales |publisher=ABC TV |location=Australia |date=2 April 2004 |access-date=24 August 2009 }} Snow's Capital Airport Group acquired the 99-year lease from the Australian Government in 1998 for $65 million. The site includes Fairbairn Business Park, formerly a Royal Australian Air Force base, as well as the Majura Business Park and Majura Park Shopping Centre. Snow was responsible for a $250 million development of a new terminal for Canberra Airport including an “extravagant” international interior design-winning terminal.{{cite web|url=https://www.traveller.com.au/act-news/canberra-airport-opens-extravagant-international-terminal-ahead-of-singapore-airlines-flights-20160916-grhqas.html|title=Canberra Airport opens 'extravagant' international terminal ahead of Singapore Airlines flights|first=Clare|last=Sibthorpe|date=16 September 2016|website=Traveller}}{{cite web|url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6016083/canberra-airport-wins-interior-design-award/|title=Canberra Airport wins interior design award|date=15 June 2018|website=The Canberra Times}} Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways were the first two international air carriers to Canberra; that arrived at Canberra international Airport in 2017 and 2018 respectively.{{cite web|url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6023004/first-qatar-airways-flight-from-doha-lands-at-canberra-airport/|title=First Qatar Airways flight from Doha lands at Canberra Airport|first=Sherryn|last=Groch|date=12 February 2018|website=The Canberra Times}}

Snow developed Brindabella Business Park. One of these landmark buildings is 8 Brindabella Circuit, which was awarded five stars under the Green Star rating system of the Green Building Council of Australia – the first and highest rating awarded in Australia at the time.{{cite web|url=http://airportbusinessparks.com.au/environmental-commitment/|title=Environmental Commitment|website=Airport Business Parks}}{{self-published-inline|date=December 2020}} Snow's attempt to develop land around the Canberra Airport was described by Patrick Troy as controversial. Specific criticisms include that it removes jobs from Civic, diminishes Canberra's town centre, and causes unnecessary congestion on roads originally designed exclusively for airport traffic. The development of Brindabella Business Park attracted international corporates including KPMG, Deloitte and Raytheon{{cite web|url=http://airportbusinessparks.com.au/tenant-directory/|title=Tenant Directory|website=Airport Business Parks}}{{self-published-inline|date=December 2020}} as well as the Department of Home Affairs and has been recognised as an emerging aerotropolis{{cite web|url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6144328/canberra-airports-workforce-predicted-to-take-off/|title=Canberra Airport's workforce predicted to take off|first=John|last=Thistleton|date=17 March 2014|website=The Canberra Times}} that has helped to grow the Canberra workforce.

Snow’s nearby Majura Park Shopping Centre attracted international retailers Costco, Aldi{{cite web|url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6019384/bunnings-warehouse-canberra-airport-to-open-next-month/|title=Bunnings Warehouse Canberra Airport to open next month|first=Han|last=Nguyen|date=18 April 2018|website=The Canberra Times}} and Ikea,{{cite web|url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6073126/ikea-helps-build-case-for-international-flights-for-canberra-airport/|title=IKEA helps build case for international flights for Canberra Airport|first=Clare|last=Colley|date=19 January 2015|website=The Canberra Times}} with nationwide retailers Bunnings, Woolworths and Dan Murphy's.{{cite web|url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6017203/canberra-airports-bunnings-warehouse-opens-its-doors/|title=Canberra Airport's Bunnings Warehouse opens its doors|first=Han|last=Nguyen|date=23 May 2018|website=The Canberra Times}}

Capital Property Group also developed Constitution Place,{{cite web|url=https://constitutionplace.com.au/|title=Constitution Place Canberra|website=constitutionplace.com.au}}{{self-published-inline|date=December 2020}} a commercial and hospitality complex adjacent to the Canberra Theatre and the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly in Canberra's central business district, which houses a five-storey government office building and a 12-level commercial building that is Canberra’s first WELL-rated building with a hotel and dining spaces.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

In 2017, Snow opened Willinga Park,{{cite web|url=https://willingapark.com.au/facilities/|title=Facilities Archive}}{{self-published-inline|date=December 2020}} an award-winning, {{convert|2000|acre|ha|order=flip|adj=on}}, equine facility in Bawley Point. Willinga Park was developed to include an equestrian centre with three Olympic-sized dressage arenas, showjumping fields and a campdrafting arena.{{cite web|url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6017188/terry-snows-willinga-park-a-game-changer-for-campdrafting/|title=Terry Snow's Willinga Park a 'game changer' for campdrafting|first=Karen|last=Hardy|date=2 June 2018|website=The Canberra Times}} In 2018, Snow sponsored the largest campdrafting purse in Australian history at the World Championship Gold Buckle Campdraft centre. Pete Comiskey, a Queensland campdrafting rider, won the $100,000 purse after only four rounds lasting four minutes. Willinga Park also includes native gardens and a sculpture walk. It has been referred to as “Jurassic Park with horses.”{{cite web|url=https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/why-terry-snow-billionaire-and-yachtie-put-100-million-into-a-horse-park-20170418-gvmojy|title=Why Terry Snow, billionaire and yachtie, put $100 million into a horse park|date=23 May 2017|website=Australian Financial Review}} In June 2018, it was announced that Sculpture on the Clyde, an outdoor art exhibition usually held on the Clyde River in Batemans Bay would be moved to Willinga Park to avoid being cancelled after the Eurobodalla Shire Council and event organisers were unable to come to an agreement on event logistics, insurance and security.{{cite web|url=https://www.batemansbaypost.com.au/story/5482728/sculpture-on-clyde-bolts-to-bawley-point/|title=Sculpture on Clyde bolts to Bawley Point|first=Kate|last=Lockley|date=21 June 2018|website=Bay Post-Moruya Examiner}} During the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season, Willinga Park and its well constructed and defended fire breaks were credited as providing a much-needed fire break that saved Bawley Point from destructive fires.{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/the-billionaire-whose-plan-helped-save-a-town-from-bushfire-20200108-p53pvo.html |title=The billionaire whose plan helped save a town from bushfire |first=Amelia |last=McGuire |work=Sydney Morning Herald |date=2020-01-08 }}

Snow was also the owner of Capital Property Group and Capital Estate Developments which is responsible for the development of {{ACTcity|Denman Prospect}},{{cite web|url=https://denmanprospect.com.au/|title=Denman Prospect | Canberra's Most Remarkable New Suburb | Land For Sale|website=denmanprospect.com.au}} a master-planned community in the Molonglo Valley and the first Australian suburb to have a minimum requirement for solar power generation on every home.{{cite web|url=https://denmanprospect.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/DP_Solar-Fact-Sheet-Dec-2017.pdf |title=Fact sheet |date=2017 |website=denmanprospect.com.au |access-date=2019-09-29}} It is also the first suburb in Australia to commit to the Homes for Homes initiative which donates 0.1 per cent of the sale price of all properties to projects that address the shortage of social and affordable housing in the ACT.{{cite web |url=http://www.homesforhomes.com.au/news/press-releases/denman-prospect-makes-first-donation-homes-homes/ |title=The Big Issue - Denman Prospect makes first donation to Homes for Homes - Homes for Homes |website=www.homesforhomes.com.au |access-date=25 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315142312/http://www.homesforhomes.com.au/news/press-releases/denman-prospect-makes-first-donation-homes-homes/ |archive-date=15 March 2018 |url-status=dead}}

Snow was married to Ginette, and they have four adult children: Stephen, Georgina, Tom and Scarlett. Stephen was managing director of Capital Airport Group and Canberra Airport.{{cite news |url=http://issuu.com/citynews/docs/090806-citynews?mode=embed&documentId=090805003217-43d0b713392c467c83d8e2a3d1830e61&layout=grey |title=Stephen flies high on enthusiasm |work=Canberra City News |date=6–12 August 2009 |page=6 |access-date=24 August 2009 }}

Snow was often accompanied by his dogs, which attended meetings with him at his airport offices.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

In 2013, Snow was ranked by Forbes as Australia's 39th richest person, with a net worth of {{USD}}755 million.{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/terry-snow/|title=Forbes Profile Terry Snow|website=Forbes |date=2013}} By 2019, his wealth was estimated by Forbes Asia at {{USD|1.2}} billion. Following Snow's death in 2024, it was reported that approximately half of his {{AUD}}4.10 billion estate was transferred to his wife, Ginette; and that the remainder of his estate's wealth was to be put into a charitable trust.{{cite news |author1=Redrup, Yolanda |url=https://www.afr.com/rich-list/australia-s-wealthiest-200-revealed-fortunes-blow-past-667b-20250509-p5lxxb |title=Australia’s wealthiest 200 revealed, fortunes blow past $667b |work=Australian Financial Review |date=30 May 2025 |access-date=31 May 2025 |url-access=subscription }}

Along with his brother, George, Snow established the Snow Foundation in 1991.{{cite web|url=http://www.snowfoundation.org.au/our-partners/annual-reports/the-snow-foundation-annual-report-2018/|title=The Snow Foundation Annual Report 2018|website=The Snow Foundation|language=en|access-date=2019-04-16}} {{As of|2016}}, the Foundation held over {{AUD}}40 million in net assets,{{cite web|url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6041321/the-snow-foundation-celebrates-25-years-of-helping-those-in-need/|title=The Snow Foundation celebrates 25 years of helping those in need|first=Megan|last=Doherty|date=13 October 2016|website=The Canberra Times}} with a focus on supporting regional charities and organisations helping needy people.[http://www.snowfoundation.org.au/aboutus.htm Snow Foundation]. Retrieved 23 August 2009{{cite speech |url=http://www.philanthropy.org.au/conference/speakers/Georgina_Byron.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091014070653/http://www.philanthropy.org.au/conference/speakers/Georgina_Byron.pdf |archive-date=2009-10-14 |title=Listening to Fresh Voices: new foundations, younger generations |first=Georgina |last=Byron |event=Philanthropy Australia conference |publisher=Philanthropy Australia |date=October 2008 |access-date=24 August 2009 }} In 2016 Snow predicted that in the next 10–15 years, the Snow Foundation endowment will “be over $100 million and that will let us do three times what we're doing now".

In 2005 he published the "Living City" proposal for the redevelopment of Canberra.[http://www.lda.act.gov.au/uploads/home/media/other/canberra_central_taskforce/high_powered_members.pdf High Powered Members appointed to Canberra Central Taskforce], ACT Government, 2005-05-05. Retrieved 24 August 2009[http://www.parliament.act.gov.au/downloads/minutes-of-proceedings/05MoP018.pdf Minutes of Proceedings], ACT Legislative Assembly, 2005-05-04. Retrieved 24 August 2009 This caused some controversy, especially after the proposal's rebuff by the ACT Government and combined with his provocative assertion that Canberra is a "dead-set boring" city that had been "going backwards since self-government".[http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/govt-fights-back-over-boring-claims/310014.aspx Govt fights back over 'boring' claims], The Canberra Times, 2005-07-29. Retrieved 24 August 2009

In 2017, the Australian National Portrait Gallery commissioned Snow's portrait in recognition of the contribution he has made to the growth of Canberra and his work as a philanthropist.{{cite web|url=https://www.portrait.gov.au/people/terry-snow-1943|title=Terry Snow, National Portrait Gallery|website=www.portrait.gov.au}} In a media interview, Snow said he was proud to call Canberra home: "I was born in Canberra, that's quite something for someone who is 74. I love the place; it's been a big part of my life, a very happy life. I had a wonderful time growing up in Canberra, raising a family here, developing a business career. Some people say Canberra is an economic backwater but I've proven that wrong. It's a great little city."{{cite web|url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6025400/terry-snow-ive-loved-building-a-life-in-this-great-little-city/|title=Terry Snow: I've loved building a life in this 'great little city'|first=Karen|last=Hardy|date=1 December 2017|website=The Canberra Times}}

The Snow family is a strong supporter of, and has provided in-kind contributors to, the Marriage Equality lobby group Australians for Equality,{{cite news |url= https://www.crikey.com.au/2016/08/02/australian-marriage-equalitys-quiet-plebiscite-preparation/ |title=Snowed under: Australian Marriage Equality offshoot focuses on plebiscite |author=Taylor, Josh |date=2 August 2016 |work=Crikey |access-date=1 April 2017}}{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/government-mps-working-to-bring-samesex-marriage-policy-to-a-head-over-next-fortnight-20170203-gu4t75.html |title=Government MPs working to bring same-sex marriage policy to a head over next fortnight |author=Massola, James |date=4 February 2017 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=1 April 2017}} of which his son Tom{{cite news |author=Thistleton, John |date=14 May 2012 |title=Doting dads get in the frame |url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/doting-dads-get-in-the-frame-20120513-1ykxg.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=1 April 2017 |work=The Canberra Times}}{{cite news |date=30 June 2012 |title=Dad, Daddy, Sybilla and Angus |url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/dad-daddy-sybilla-and-angus-20120629-217z9.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=29 September 2019 |work=The Canberra Times}} was chair until November 2023.{{Cite web |last=emily.mulligan@equalityaustralia.org.au |date=2023-11-29 |title=Equality Australia farewells accomplished board chair Tom Snow |url=https://equalityaustralia.org.au/equality-australia-farewells-accomplished-board-chair-tom-snow/ |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=Equality Australia |language=en-US}}

Snow held a commercial pilot licence for fixed wing aircraft and rotary wing aircraft and had a command instrument rating.{{cite web|url=http://www.canberraairport.com.au/air_aboutAirport/board.cfm|title=Board of Directors|publisher=Canberra Airport|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717182252/http://www.canberraairport.com.au/air_aboutAirport/board.cfm|archive-date=17 July 2011}}

Through a gift of {{AUD}}8 million in 2013 to Canberra Grammar School, he endowed The Snow Centre for Education in the Asian Century to focus on the advancement of Asian Studies at primary and secondary school levels. The centre was established in 2015 and aims to provide “world-class facilities for the study of Asian languages, history and culture.”{{cite web|url=https://cgs.act.edu.au/about-cgs/why-choose-cgs/global-outlook/the-snow-centre-for-education-in-the-asian-century-2/|title=The Snow Centre for Education in the Asian Century|publisher=Canberra Grammar School }} Canberra Grammar School also offers The Terry Snow Scholarship for Global Studies for a student who demonstrates excellent academic potential and a commitment to a global outlook who wishes to take the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.{{cite web|url=https://cgs.act.edu.au/admissions/scholarships/year-11-scholarships/|title=Year 11 Scholarships|publisher=Canberra Grammar School }} In October 2019 Snow donated {{AUD}}20 million to Canberra Grammar School with the plan to rebuild the school's breezeway and library and create a centre for music excellence. The gift was reported as the largest philanthropic gift to an Australian school.{{cite news |url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6437498/canberra-private-school-gets-record-breaking-20-million-donation/ |title=Canberra Grammar School gifted record-breaking $20 million from businessman |first=Sherryn |last=Groch |work=ABC News |location=Australia |date=2019-10-14 |access-date=2019-10-14 |df=dmy-all}}

Snow was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2006 Australia Day Honours for service to the building and construction industry, particularly the redevelopment of the Canberra International Airport precinct, and to the community through support for a range of charitable organisations.{{Cite It's an Honour |ausawardid=1131460 |date=26 January 2006 |recipient=SNOW, Terrence Mark |award=Member of the Order of Australia |postnominal=AM |citation=For service to the building and construction industry, particularly the redevelopment of the Canberra International Airport precinct, and to the community through support for a range of charitable organisations. |postscript= |accessdate=29 September 2019 }}

Snow owned a large equestrian property, Willinga Park, near Bawley Point in New South Wales. In December 2019 and January 2020, massive fires swept through the area and Snow's "intricate fire plan [is] credited as part of the reason the nearby coastal town of Bawley Point escaped annihilation in the firestorm that swept through the region."{{Cite web |last=McGuire |first=Amelia |date=2020-01-08 |title=The billionaire whose plan helped save a town from bushfire |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/the-billionaire-whose-plan-helped-save-a-town-from-bushfire-20200108-p53pvo.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110717182252/http://www.canberraairport.com.au/air_aboutAirport/board.cfm Canberra Airport] – Board
• [http://www.snowfoundation.org.au Snow Foundation]

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Category:1943 births

Category:2024 deaths

Category:People from Canberra

Category:Australian businesspeople

Category:Australian philanthropists

Category:Commercial aviators

Category:Members of the Order of Australia

Category:Australian billionaires

Category:People educated at Canberra Grammar School