Vale Helen Bartley, founding member of Benchmark Mastering

Blue Mountains studio Benchmark Mastering has announced the passing of founding member Helen Bartley after a long illness.

A life and business partner of high profile mastering engineer Don Bartley, Helen was a director of International Mastering Services since the early 1990s, and was actively involved in setting up and running Benchmark in 2006 at the site of the original EMI Studios in Castlereagh Street, Sydney. 

“Don never doubted that Benchmark, an icon of the Australian music scene, would not have existed and flourished without Helen’s encouragement and personal support,” the company said in a statement.

“She will always be remembered for her bright and cheerful character, and for looking after everyone who came through the door, whether independent or major Australian artists or international artists, with the same attention, care and consideration”

These artists included INXS, Cold Chisel, Savage Garden, Leo Sayer, Harry Connick Jr and Jessica Mauboy.

Originally from Melbourne, Helen met Don in Sydney in the mid-1980s. 

After EMI closed down its custom records pressing service, Helen launched Customline Records, running it out of the old post office at East Balmain. 

It was a great boon for independent artists requiring high-quality vinyl pressings of their recordings. 

Over 100,000 pressings were supplied during this time before Helen eventually changed the East Balmain outlet into a popular video store. 

When the level 7 facility at Castlereagh changed direction, Helen and Don moved Benchmark up to their home/studio in the Blue Mountains.