A pioneer of the Australian art trade – initially as a collector of Modern and Impressionist paintings – Rod established the auction house Deutscher-Menzies (now Menzies) and in 2001 purchased Lawsons from the Badgery family.
He was a vociferous champion of Australian art and in the late 1990s Menzies became a worthy competitor to leading incumbents Sotheby’s and Christies through its propensity to achieve sale records for iconic Australian artists such as Brett Whiteley, Sidney Nolan, Jeffrey Smart and Howard Arkley.
A significant figure across the Australian business landscape, apart from art and collectables Rod was successful in such diverse fields as cleaning, property services, bloodstock and viticulture.
The Menzies family has said it will continue Rod’s unshakeable commitment to the Australian art and collectables market under both the Menzies and Lawsons brands.
