Art Curator Nick Waterlow & daughter murdered

[JIM]

Whilst scanning news stories, I saw a face I knew and then was shocked to read the headline......how awful :(


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/new...-1225795971544

Author Chloe Waterlow and her curator father Nick Waterlow found stabbed to death


A FOUR-YEAR-OLD boy was found unharmed in the same house where a cookbook author and her father were stabbed to death in a suspected double murder in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs which also left the woman's toddler daughter fighting for life.

The Daily Telegraph understands Chloe Waterlow, 37, and her father, 67-year-old art curator Nick Waterlow, both died of multiple stab wounds inside Ms Watlerlow’s Clovelly Rd home in Randwick last night.

A two-year-old girl believed to be Ms Waterlow’s daughter was stabbed in the throat while the boy survived the attacks unharmed.

The girl was barely breathing when emergency crews put her in the ambulance. She remains at Prince of Wales Hospital with a 6cm stab wound to the neck.

Police were tipped off to the carnage by a triple-0 call about 6pm last night. They refuse to reveal who alerted them.

It is understood that while murder-suicide has not been ruled out, police believe it was more likely a double murder.

A neighbour who identified himself only as John said he heard a man screaming just before police arrived.

"I heard somebody screaming. A man's voice," he said.

Mr Waterlow was well known among Sydney art circles as curator of Darlinghurst's Ivan Dougherty Gallery.

The former Art Gallery of NSW curator also lived in the Eastern Suburbs after selling his Northern Beaches home for almost $4.5 million in 2007.

His daughter co-wrote the 2006 cookbook Celebrity Homecooked - which featured recipes and memories from Aussie stars - with Dylan Brookes.

Her husband was named as English-educated Ben Heuston, a digital consultant who worked previously for EMAP and ACP in Australia and who has reportedly been in England investigating work opportunities.

Other neighbours described the pair as a lovely young couple.

It is understood they moved into their semi-detached house about 18 months ago after buying it at auction for more than $1 million.

Nearby resident Antinina Mautone said Ms Waterlow was very attentive to her children.

"She used to play with them in the backyard," Ms Mautone said last night.

"She was a wonderful lady and played with her children in the back lane. The kids sounded very happy and they were filled with the love of the parents."

She added: "It is a shock to us that this has happened."

[Helm]

That is a shock! The poor wee kiddies. Such strange events. Sorry to hear this is someone you know, Jim.

[JIM]

Originally Posted by Helm

That is a shock! The poor wee kiddies. Such strange events. Sorry to hear this is someone you know, Jim.

I met Nick a couple of times years ago, he even visited my studio ( this is going back 20 or so years ago ) when he was curating the Sydney Biennale....but I didn't know him.

He came across as a decent chap to me

It was just weird seeing a face and recognizing it before reading the headline.

[JIM]

A few hours later and the same media outlet finally works out who Nick Waterlow was .......


Why were Sydney art maestro Nick Waterlow and his author daughter Chloe Waterlow murdered?

THE English-born curator found murdered with his author daughter at her $1 million Eastern Suburbs home was a respected art figure who organised the acclaimed Sydney Biennale three times, it has emerged.

Nick Waterlow - director of Paddington's Ivan Dougherty Gallery - and cookbook writer Chloe Waterlow, 37, both died of multiple stab wounds inside Ms Watlerlow’s Clovelly Rd home in Randwick last night.

A two-year-old girl believed to be Ms Waterlow’s daughter was also stabbed in the throat while a four-year-old boy survived the attacks unharmed.

The girl was barely breathing when emergency crews put her in the ambulance. She remains in hospital in serious condition with a 6cm stab wound to the neck.

Police were tipped off to the carnage by a triple-0 call about 6pm last night. They refuse to reveal who alerted them.

Mr Waterlow OAM, 67, is a legend in NSW art circles. He was artistic director for the Sydney Biennale in 1979, 1986 and 1998 and was on the festival's international selection committee in 2000.

The former Art Gallery of NSW curator also lived in the Eastern Suburbs after selling his three-bedroom Northern Beaches home for almost $4.5 million in 2007.

He was reportedly an inspiration to many, with The Sydney gallery owner Damien Minton saying: "Nick has mentored at least two generations of artists and art administrators."
Mr Waterlow was even the subject of Wang Xu's entry for the 2008 Archibald Prize.

His Ivan Dougherty Gallery is a major contemporary exhibiting space and resource of The College of Fine Arts (COFA), part of the University of NSW.

UNSW Vice-Chancellor Fred Hilmer today said: "Nick will be greatly missed by generations of students to whom he was a powerful mentor, by his colleagues at COFA and many friends and supporters in the arts community.

"We extend our deepest sympathy to his partner and other members of his family."

His daughter co-wrote the 2006 cookbook Celebrity Homecooked - which featured recipes and memories from Aussie stars - with Dylan Brookes.

Ms Waterlow's husband is Ben Heuston, a digital consultant who worked previously for EMAP and ACP in Australia. He is believed to be in England investigating work opportunities.

Meanwhile, neighbours have told police a homeless man was seen in the street close to the time of the murders.

John Drew reportedly saw the man at 1pm and near the family's house at 4pm.


Other neighbours described the pair as a lovely young couple.

Antinina Mautone said Ms Waterlow was very attentive to her children.

"She used to play with them in the backyard," Ms Mautone said last night.

"She was a wonderful lady and played with her children in the back lane. The kids sounded very happy and they were filled with the love of the parents."

She added: "It is a shock to us that this has happened."

[TET]

Although the event its self is tragic it is kind of funny to see the article re-written by the same media out-let in that way... like some how it matters more because this person was higher profile than at first thought and now requires more serious follow up.

[Lauren]

The poor kids... :-( there are some sick people out there, there really are.

[Stefan Maguran]

What sad world we live in when the Arts make the headlines always for the wrong reasons!
I feel for all affected by this tragedy.

[emkay]

Truly awful Jim.