Maudie was a cultural visionary whose influence on modern and contemporary art in Australia is enduring. She began her career at the University Gallery (now the Ian Potter Museum of Art) at the University of Melbourne from 1975 to 1981.

As the inaugural director of Heide Park and Art Gallery (now Heide Museum of Modern Art) from 1981 to 1996, Maudie shaped the institution into the iconic cornerstone of Australian modernism it is today, curating more than 100 exhibitions and expanding its collection from 130 works to over 800.

She later served as the founding director of the TarraWarra Museum of Art from 2000 to 2009. Through these roles, she helped shape three of Victoria’s most significant cultural institutions.

Across her career, Maudie guided the development of major cultural projects and public artworks, working closely with artists and architects to bring ambitious ideas to life.

Maudie served extensively on boards and committees, including a full nine-year term as a Trustee of the National Gallery of Victoria. In recognition of her extraordinary contribution to the sector, Maudie was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2006 and awarded an honorary doctorate by Monash University in 2021.

Maudie was a Champion fundraiser for the Venice Biennale in 2005, commissioned by Creative Australia (then the Australia Council for the Arts). Her success in fundraising in 2005 led to Venice Biennale Commissioner John Kaldor inviting her to be on the Commissioners Council for Venice Biennale 2007. She was also a regular guest at Creative Australia (Australia Council for the Arts) events and functions.

Creative Australia Head of Visual Arts, Michelle Newton, said: "Maudie’s ethos was deeply rooted in advocacy for artists, First Nations voices, and for the environment. She believed artmaking was central to civic life and worked tirelessly to ensure artists had the space and resources to shape our cultural future. 

“She was a guiding force who helped shape Australia’s contemporary arts landscape. As a leader for women in the arts, she broke barriers and inspired generations of curators, directors, and cultural thinkers to dream bigger."

Above all, Maudie will be remembered for her extraordinary legacy, which lives on through the institutions she shaped and the many people she inspired.

Creative Australia extends its deepest condolences to Maudie’s family, friends, and colleagues.

Maudie Palmer AO 
1944–2025

^{Maudie Palmer AO No.1 2022 Credit: Bronwyn Kidd}