Many of you will know the name Stuart Leal.
For over ten years he has owned a business in Lane Cove. He recently moved his gallery from The Village Shops to a larger gallery at the Burns Bay Road shops near the IGA and next door to Switch Physiotherapy Lane Cove.
Stuart has a passion for Indigenous Art and learning about the artists behind their incredible paintings. He has gained a real appreciation of the history behind the artists and the long-held stories they express on canvas. ITC loves his passion but after speaking to Stuart about his journey to local business owner, we knew we had to let people know about his past – it’s really intersting.
There’s More to Stuart Than Meets The Eye
Stuart has had a varied career. At the age of 21, he managed the Sydney office of a diesel generator supplier, which took him across the country on various assignments, including working on film sets, television sets, and at music concerts. He has also worked on classic films like Gallipoli and claims a front seat at Midnight Oil’s legendary show at Goat Island as one of his fondest memories during that time.
Stuart’s involvement in the film and music industry led to him meeting famous people. He told ITC about the time he met Elton John at a Christmas party in the backyard of a factory in St Peters. Elton admired Stuart’s tattoo of a 1959 Cadillac and they spoke about cars for about 30 minutes. As Elton was leaving, he asked Stuart to join him at a party at The Sebel later that night. Stuart said he politely declined and told him he was going to see a rockabilly gig at the Lansdowne Hotel.
A Passion for Vintage Cadillacs Became a Business
After seven years of working long hours, Stuart decided to set up his own car hire business, leveraging his hobby of collecting Vintage Cadillacs (1954 and 1959 models) and interest from friends and fellow car enthusiasts he met at car shows. Stuart’s cars were used at his sister’s wedding, the word spread, and his business flourished.
Stuart’s cars have been used for proposals, weddings, anniversaries, celebrity funerals, dinner dates, formals, and awards nights (such as the Moe Awards, People’s Choice Awards, and the Drag Queen Awards).
He chauffeured many international celebrities, including Neil Diamond, George Foreman, James Belushi, Carrie Fisher, Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers, to name a few, along with our local celebrities, including Dame Edna Everage, Kimberley Davies, Alyssa-Jane Cook, Isla Fisher, Julian McMahon, Kate Fischer and Maria Venuti.
In 2000, one of his Cadillacs was hired for use in the Christine Anu video clip – Sunshine on a Rainy Day. He was not supposed to be in the video, but when he delivered the Cadillac to the White Bay Power Station, they liked the way Stuart was dressed and his 50’s haircut, so he was asked to be in the video.
Watch the video below – Stuart and his cars feature promiently.
By the time Stuart sold the business many years later, he had amassed the most extensive collection of 1950s Cadillacs in Australia. He had 20 cars in his Rozelle-based warehouse. He owned white, pink, red, and black Cadillacs, from sedans to stretch and convertibles, along with a collection of Harley Davidson motorcycles.
A New Passion Emerges
Stuart then transitioned from hiring wedding cars to becoming a wedding photographer and some Lane Cove locals may remember Stuart’s Photography studio on Victoria Road, Drummoyne.
The transition was easy, as Stuart had been an avid hobby photographer for a while. At most wedding location shoots, he would assist the photographers and help set up the Cadillacs and Harleys.
During his time as a wedding photographer, he was hired for celebrity and high-profile weddings. He was the wedding photographer of choice at the South China Sea wedding (Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort) of Kahlia Chamberlain (Lindy and Michael Chamberlain’s daughter). He also photographed the wedding of property magnate Lang Walker’s daughter, Georgia.
Due to some lifestyle changes, Stuart decided he would concentrate more on family portraits and corporate headshots. He was looking for new premises, and a friend suggested he look in Lane Cove. Stuart sat in the Lane Cove Plaza and watched the world go by, seeing the mums and bubs and great market potential.
From Photographer to Art Gallery Owner
It was in Lane Cove that Stuart’s passion for Indigenous art was ignited. He researched Indigenous artists and found reputable dealers and contacts in the Northern Territory. He started with a couple of paintings in his photography studio, and then one day, he realised his whole studio was, in fact, an Indigenous Art Gallery.
The Rest, As They Say, is History…
The Stuart Leal Art Gallery is now located on Burns Bay Road. The move to a larger space has allowed Stuart to showcase some of the most buzz-worthy artwork, from stunning decorating pieces to works from significant and famous artists considered to be collector/investment pieces.
The gallery has become a hub for art enthusiasts. His beautiful art is from the Central and Western Desert region and is ethical, authentic, and affordable.
Address: 1/161 Burns Bay Rd, Lane Cove NSW 2066.
(Beside the IGA supermarket with parking out the front or carpark at the rear)
Phone: 0414 551 956
Facebook: @stuartleal
Instagram: @stuart_leal_gallery/
Email: [email protected]
This is not a sponsored post as we loved Stuart’s story – however Stuart has been an
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