Basil Sellers
Club Patron

Born in Bulsar (now known as Valsad) in the west-central Indian state of Gujarat, Basil Sellers enjoyed his early life with his parents, William and Irene and younger brother Rex. William – known as Alf – was a bridge engineer in a town experiencing monsoonal conditions, and held a critically important role within the community. Like most good mothers, Irene ensured the Anglo-Indian family grew together in a loving, safe and supportive environment.

Like most young Indian boys, Basil and Rex fell in love with cricket. Taught by Dad on a half-pitch in their backyard, the boys would take their knowledge and skills to the 'maidan' and play for hours with the neighbourhood kids. Possessing the only genuinely crafted cricket bat, fully equipped with a splice, ensured the Sellers brothers’ matches always had plenty of willing participants.

In 1947, when Sellers was 12, his world came crashing down as India declared independence, plunging the country into chaos, curfews and riots. The Anglo-Indian community was particularly vulnerable without the protection of the British Army, and many families decided to leave. Author of From India with Love: A History of the Sellers family, Dr Gloria Jean Moore, said, "It was a memorable moment for every Anglo-Indian – we knew the power had shifted. We didn't want to leave India, but we were the human face of the British Raj and feared being murdered by mobs."

The rapid social change coincided with Sellers barely surviving two separate bouts of malaria. Irene decided to leave India, and doctors told her to find a hot, dry climate to assist with Sellers' health concerns. And so, the family committed to a life in Australia when most other Anglo-Indian families left for England.

While Irene and the boys boarded the Strathaird, setting sail for Adelaide, Alf remained in his position with the Indian Railways, planning to reunite with his family a year later. "If we'd gone to England, I would have died," Sellers told the Sydney Morning Herald. "My mother went to the Australian high commission in Bombay and, not knowing much about the White Australia policy, it turned out we were very lucky we had vitiligo. She started off very brown, but they thought she was white, so they allowed us to move. It was sheer luck."

Sellers attended Kings College boarding school, excelling in leadership roles and on the sporting fields. In his final year, he claimed the school's highest sporting honour.

"They asked me if I wanted to play cricket. At the first practice, there was soon a crowd behind me. They moved me to a net where there were bigger boys, and I got through that. They picked me in the first XI that weekend, I made the top score, and from then on, I was a hero. It changed my life. Cricket was the reason we were able to assimilate. It's why I support cricket as much as I can, for all it has done for me."

After completing year 12, Sellers decided not to pursue further academic studies. He continued his budding cricket career with the Kensington Club. Standing at an impressive height of 188cm, he also possessed a talent for basketball. He played with North Adelaide, eventually earning a spot on the South Australian team and winning the Australian championships in 1958. Likewise, Sellers’ took to supporting the North Adelaide Roosters – the local football team in the SANFL.

Sellers had a strong passion for business from a young age. At 17, he joined the reputable stockbroking firm Cutter and Harvey. Being immersed in the fast-paced world of the stock market provided him with a steady income and fuelled his ambition. Sellers wisely saved his earnings and diligently built enough capital to acquire a Real Estate Agency. Later, he expanded his ventures to include Devon Homes, a small home construction company. With his sharp entrepreneurial skills and careful planning, the company quickly became the leading building company in South Australia.

He then acquired the struggling Sydney-based Ralph Symons plywood manufacturing company and successfully turned it around, generating substantial profits. However, one of his most impressive achievements was assembling a consortium to rescue the struggling Bradmill Mills, saving the jobs of 1000 employees. Additionally, he spearheaded the revitalisation of Gestetner, which had 130 branches globally.

In 1978, Sellers moved to Sydney. His love for the Sydney Swans originated from an impromptu viewing of an SCG training session during their 1982 season, after realising the Swans’ team colours were red and white – the same as his beloved North Adelaide Roosters. Three years later, when the VFL made private ownership available, Sellers became part of a consortium that competed against Geoffrey Edelsten for the Swans licence.

'We had a party here in case we won it; Geoffrey had a party at his place in case he won it," Sellers told the SMH. "We were confident, but I got a call from [VFL commissioner] Jack Hamilton about 9pm saying, 'Basil, you've come second in a two-horse race'. Those were his exact words. So, I congratulated Geoffrey, and our party broke up pretty early. It was probably the best thing that ever happened to me, another very lucky break."

Sellers then took his business acumen to the UK with outstanding success. After two successful seasons, the consortium that took control sold the club back to the VFL for $10. Sellers joined a group that included Peter Weinert, Mike Willessee, John Gerahty, and Craig Kimberley. They formed a new private ownership group in 1988, steering the struggling Swans through its darkest days in Sydney. Sellers also served as a club director from 1989 to 1993. Eventually, after the group invested significant amounts, the AFL resolved that the Swans would revert to a traditional member-based system.

Afterwards, Sellers called chairman Richard Colless to ask how he could help the club get back on its feet. He's been helping ever since. In 2002, the Swans moved into a new $6 million state-of-the-art training and administration facility at the SCG and, in recognition of his invaluable contribution, named it the Basil Sellers Centre.

In 2008, Sellers merged his two passions – sport and art – to instigate the Basil Sellers Sports Sculptures Project in the SCG precinct. Swans greats Paul Kelly, Adam Goodes, and Paul Roos are among the collection. That same year, he launched the Basil Sellers Art Prize at Melbourne University's Ian Potter Museum of Art, specifically for art on a sporting theme.

Sellers generously contributed significantly to developing the Sydney Swans new home at the Royal Hall of Industries – a world-class training and administration facility that has positioned the club for sustained success into the future. He funds the Basil Sellers Scholarship program, which supports promising boys and girls in the QBE Sydney Swans Academy.

At the Swans Hall of Fame induction dinner in 2023, Sellers received the honour of having the world-class Sydney Swans HQ named the Sellers & Colless Centre, in recognition of his standing at the club. A man of immense vision, Sellers has also made significant contributions towards Australian cricket while enhancing the lives of the underprivileged and marginalised in numerous countries across the globe, with countless charities benefiting from his foresight and input.

To understand the impact Basil Sellers has made on the Sydney Swans and numerous recipients of his generosity worldwide, Swans Hall of Famer Tadhg Kennelly provides excellent insight: "'We had nothing when I was a kid, but he gave me this opportunity. I fell upon an angel. He became like a father for me because he'd never ring me up about football; he'd just ask, 'How's uni going?' He's the reason I made a life out here. I'm indebted to that man. He's a gentleman."

To further emphasise Sellers' impact, Bloods Champion Gerard Healy made the following toast at the Swans Hall of Fame event that celebrated his induction, "You've been an incredible supporter of this club for four decades; the club's greatest benefactor. You've been here for the good and not-so-good, but you were always first to put your hand up and say, 'How can I be of help?' This club would simply not be here if not for Basil Sellers."