The Queensland Eye Institute’s new home at 87 Ipswich Road is named in honour of Charles and Sylvia Viertel, long term supporters of the Foundation’s sight-saving work, whose philanthropic legacy continues through a generous bequest.
Charles Viertel (1902–1992) was an accountant, businessman and philanthropist, who supported eye research in his lifetime and beyond.
Charles was born in Kangaroo Point, Brisbane, the eighth of eleven children. He excelled at Kangaroo State School and graduated as dux from Brisbane Central Technical High School. He entered the public service, graduated with a commerce degree from the University of Queensland and practised as a cost accountant.
As a young man, Charles accumulated wealth buying and selling real estate, particularly residential properties in Brisbane’s inner suburbs and land between Tallebudgera and Currumbin. His real estate profits fuelled a highly successful stock investing career.
Charles learned about the Prevent Blindness Foundation, now the Queensland Eye Institute Foundation, when his wife, Sylvia, began losing her sight. He appreciated the expert care Sylvia received and admired the Foundation’s efforts to raise money for research.
During his lifetime, Charles donated more than half a million dollars to the Prevent Blindness Foundation and acted as its Chair for a short time. He helped establish the Chair of Ophthalmology at the University of Queensland shortly after Sylvia’s death.
The Sylvia and Charles Viertel Charitable Foundation was established on Charles’ death to benefit various charitable purposes, including medical research. The Foundation continues to support the Queensland Eye Institute’s quest to prevent blindness, including the development of the current state-of-the-art eye research, teaching and treatment facility at 87 Ipswich Road, Woolloongabba.
The latest grant awarded by the Viertel Foundation to the Queensland Eye Institute Foundation, which commenced in 2024, is for $10.18m payable over five years. This grant helps meet QEI’s operational costs, ensuring donations from community and corporate supporters can be funneled directly to QEI’s research and education programs.
