An animal-loving philanthropist has donated $100 million to Western Australia's only veterinary medicine school, the biggest donation ever received by a university in the state.

Perth businessman Ted Powell gave the money to Murdoch University, which will enable it to rebuild its veterinary school and increase the number of vet students by almost 50 per cent.



Mr Powell, who made his money running a Hong Kong-based firm that specialised in the creation and sale of offshore shelf corporations in low tax jurisdictions, said he was motivated in part by his late wife's passion for cats.

He said the pair, who did not have children, wanted to contribute their assets to worthy organisations.

"My wife was in particular a great cat lover and ... she'd be immensely proud of what I'm doing in this project," he said.



Mr Powell said he did not want anyone else to deal with the burden of deciding what to do with the money if he died.

"I'm going to have to ask you to believe me but having too much money is a problem also," he said.

"You can't spend $100 million when you're 74.



"The motivation was, if I die that means somebody, whose wealth it is not, has to decide what to do with it and that's all wrong.

"The passing of my wife was the catalyst in making that decision."

Mr Powell has had a long association with the university through his Ragdoll Foundation, which provides scholarships to those unable to afford to study, and said Murdoch was "first in line" when it came to donating.

"I can't change the world, I can only do one thing and I've done it and Murdoch is first in the line," he said.

'Weight off my mind'​

Mr Powell said the decision to donate such a significant sum had been nerve-wracking.

"Before I made it (the decision) I was scared, and once I'd given the money over, I was relaxed," Mr Powell said.



"It was like a weight off my mind, I've done it."

Mr Powell ran his business for 19 years before selling and semi-retiring in Perth.

After relocating to WA, he became involved in developing the Richardson Hotel in West Perth.



He hopes his actions would inspire others who have come into wealth to give back and invest in the community.

"I’d like to take this opportunity to encourage anyone who’s been able to accumulate wealth to consider responsible ways to give back and I hope that my gift to Murdoch will inspire others," Mr Powell said.

"A good education is a gift to last a lifetime."

Facilities to be 'world class'​

Murdoch University vice chancellor Andrew Deeks said he was speechless when Mr Powell told him of his decision.

"Well I had to take my jaw off the floor and bring it back up," he said.



He said the donation would transform the university.

"It's bringing the facilities up to world class standards," he said.

The new build is expected to take about five years and will allow the university to boost the number students wanting to train as vets from 105 to 150 per year.

Written by: Lauren Smith, ABC News.