Queensland businesswoman Betty Byrne Henderson’s penthouse for sale

601/57B Newstead Terrace, Newstead. Queensland businesswoman Betty Byrne Henderson built a car empire at a time women weren’t supposed to – now her Brisbane penthouse is on the market. The late Ms Henderson, who died last year aged 93, established Byrne Ford car dealership in 1969 with husband Bernie Byrne and took over from him in 1977 when he passed away. Betty Byrne Henderson photographed in 2014. Picture: Russell Shakespeare At the time it was highly unusual for a woman to head a major company and she battled entrenched sexism to turn the dealership into one of the best in the country. Under her stewardship, the business grew from 35 staff to more than 140 and was the first in Australia to secure quality assurance accreditation. 601/57B Newstead Terrace, Newstead. She handed over the reins to son Peter Byrne in 1995 but didn’t slow down in retirement. She had already established herself as a major philanthropist after gifting a large sum to the Queensland University of Technology in 1987 for research, scholarships and refurbishment of Old Government House in QUT’s grounds in the CBD. She was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1995 for her services to women’s health and ...