Class of 1945

When Denis’ father Thomas Cullity, son of Irish immigrants, began Cullity Woodworks in South Australia he planted the seeds of a family business, though he could never have envisioned what it would become or the mixed fortunes yet to come. Wood and the timber industry became a part of the fabric of Western Australia and Cullity family histories - and continue to this day.

At school, Denis did well. After all, he was a member of one of its biggest dynasties. He finished as Head Prefect and Captain of the College in the Class of 1945. He was proficient in the cadets as a Lieutenant and rowed, was in the shooting team and took the Science prize as well as second place. In his address at the end of the year, the Headmaster commended him for being “well worthy of his important office”.

Denis joined the family business and presided over the company’s expansion as chairman. When the company suffered a downturn at the turn of the 21st century Denis battened down the hatches and weathered the storm. The company Wesfi and Cullity’s became part of building products company the Laminex Group. However, Denis continued his close relationship to the timber industry as a major partner in Wesbeam and became known as the state’s “timber tycoon”. In October 1951 Denis married Sir Thomas Meagher’s daughter, Ann at St Mary’s Cathedral.

Denis took on the role of executive chairman of Wesfi, then listed, from 1971 to 1996 and chair from 1999 to 2001. He was a founding chairman of Wesbeam from 2001 to 2013 and remains its major shareholder. Denis developed five major softwood manufacturing facilities in WA.

He was one of the co-founders of Swan Television in 1962 which was bought soon after and became the western arm of Channel Nine. Denis was also a director of Bankwest (1988-95) and was named Ernst and Young Champion Entrepreneur in 2006.