The matriarch of the former Fairfax media empire, Lady Mary Fairfax, has died aged 95.

Lady Mary’s family said she died on Sunday night following a recent significant deterioration in her health.

The Fairfax family owned Fairfax Radio Network for many years, which consisted of stations including 2UE, 3AW, 4BC and other AM talk stations.

Members of the Fairfax family,  have gathered at Fairwater — Lady Mary’s harbourfront estate in Sydney’s eastern suburbs..

Born Maire Wein in Warsaw, Poland, she was the third wife and widow of Sir Warwick Oswald Fairfax.

With Sir Warwick she had three children, Warwick Fairfax, Anna Cleary and Charles Fairfax.

“This is a deeply distressing time for the family,” the statement said.

“Funeral details will be announced in due course. We have no further comment at this time.”

Lady Mary was made an Officer of Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1976, a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1988 and appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 2005.

She has been acknowledged for her philanthropy, including gifts to St Vincent’s Foundation and Garvan Foundation, and her roles with the Australian Ballet and Australian Opera Foundation.