Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Wednesday 22 July 1987, page 26


Business and investment

Little-known millionaire

behind the

big takeover

PERTH: Mr Stanley Perron, the man behind the unexpected buy-out of East West Airlines and Skyw est, is one of Perth's richest men.

But unlike some others from the city of million aires, Mr Perron has never courted publicity.

When the announcement of the East West pur chase was made yesterday, Mr Perron was overseas.

Callers to his Perth office were told that he would not return for about six weeks.

Few articles have been written about Mr Perron, but he is usually described as a quiet 64-year-old whose wealth is conservatively estimated at $120 million.

Having grown up in the Western Australian gold fields, Mr Perron is reported to have left school at 12 and returned for a year at 14 before going into business for himself.

His early dealings included milk bars and taxis and an unsuccessful attempt to start an ice-skating rink.

He was a silent partner in the Lang Hancock-Peter Wright mining success of the 1960s and still receives a royalty from Pilbara iron-ore production.

Today his activities include car-dealing, property, earth-moving and mining.

His most visible Perth asset is the Merlin Hotel, one of Perth's best, which he bought for $ 100 million in June last year.

He owns 11 per cent of Toyota's Australian opera tive, AMI Ltd, and 5 per cent of the NSW distributor,

York Motors.