The Brisbane Lions are mourning the loss of Hall of Famer Arthur Wilson, who passed away peacefully on Friday evening aged 90.

Wilson made an outstanding contribution to the game of Australian Rules Football – and more specifically, to Fitzroy and the Brisbane Lions, where he was a club stalwart and Life Member for more than 50 years. 

A proud and passionate Fitzroy man since birth, it’s clear to see why so many regarded him as ‘Mr Fitzroy’. He would regularly attend VFL matches at the Brunswick Street Oval and even had the honour of being the club’s official junior mascot for the 1944 VFL Grand Final – which would prove to be Fitzroy’s last VFL premiership.

He later began working in an official capacity with Fitzroy, where he developed a strong reputation as one of the competition’s most astute administrators – undertaking a variety of roles from Football Manager to National Recruiting Manager.

Following the 1996 merger that formed the Brisbane Lions, he drove the cause to preserve and maintain Fitzroy’s rich heritage as much as anyone – developing the Fitzroy-Brisbane Lions Historical Society which was responsible for acquiring, restoring and maintaining Fitzroy’s memorabilia.

Wilson maintained the position of Chairman of the Historical Society from day one of the merger right up until his passing – a period of 25 years.

Over that period, he has helped maintain the integrity of Fitzroy’s rich and proud history more than anyone, with his countless hours of work culminating in the grand opening of a Fitzroy memorabilia display at Melbourne’s Docklands Stadium in 2011.

The room within Marvel Stadium that houses the Museum was duly recognized as the ‘Arthur Wilson Room’ in 2019.   

It was Wilson’s personal crusade to ensure that one of the AFL’s founding clubs would be celebrated publicly and in perpetuity. 

Wilson and his Historical Society members were also responsible for raising significant funds which ultimately helped the Club purchase all eight of Fitzroy’s retrospective Premiership Cups.

His commitment towards celebrating and honouring Fitzroy and the Brisbane Lions’ history makes him one of the most prominent figures in helping blend the ‘old Fitzroy’ into our present merged identity. 

In fact, when those who opposed the initial merger threatened to distance themselves from the Club and AFL entirely, Wilson was among those that stood proudly on stage and encouraged the ‘Royboys’ to rally behind the Brisbane Lions.

It has been our Club’s privilege to have had the selfless support of an outstanding individual such as Arthur, who dedicated his life to ensuring our ongoing prosperity. 

He is already a Life Member of Fitzroy and the Brisbane Lions and was recognised further for his enormous efforts by being inducted into the Club’s exclusive Hall of Fame in 2016.

While his loss will be felt by the entire club and everyone associated with it, his legacy will live on forever at the Brisbane Lions. 

The Club extends its deepest condolences to his wife Barbara, sons Ken and Bruce, and his long list of family and friends.