FIFTH GENERATION

238. James Holyman ⁽²⁹⁾ was born on 8 Sep 1862 in Torquay, Tasmania, Australia. He died on 7 Apr 1944 in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia. He was buried on 8 Apr 1944 in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.
General Australian Dictionary of Biography;

James, succeeded William as head of the business . Under his management there was growth and by 1931 nine steamers were plying the waters between Tasmanian ports, Bass Strait islands, Melbourne and Adelaide. As a young boy, James had followed his brothers by sailing with his father. In 188 1 when the ketch Pauline was added to the fleet under the control of young William, James took over the Colleen Bawn. Next year when Thomas was alloted the Albion, four ships were commanded by four Holymans. In 1907 the Holymans began acquiring Bass Strait island grazing properties, first Waterhouse Island, then Twenty day Island (called Ninth Island on Admiralty maps), followed by Robbins and adjacent Walker Island in 1916. The company King Island Steamers was formed in 1910. For several years James, whose life-long eccentricity was punctiliously to wear a formal, high, starched collar held by gold studs front and back, but refuse to wear a tie, managed Robbins Island with sheep, cattle, pigs and a small cheese and butter factory: the property, sold in 1957, supported several families and a Holyman sponsored Education Department school of twelve to fourteen pupils. Trefoil Island was bought in 1926 and sold in 1948. In 1932, with two of William's sons, Victor and (Sir) Ivan (1896-1957), James founded the airline which became Australian National Airways Pty. Ltd. later to be absorbed into Ansett Transport Industries Ltd. James died at Launceston on 7 April 1944, leaving an estate valued for probate at 22,671 pounds. His first wife Amelia, nee Lewis, whom he had married at Launceston on 1 7 July 1884 and by whom he had five children, died from the effects of childbirth on 17 July 1894. He married Mary Isobel, nee Cameron on 31 December 189 5: they had seven children.

He was married to Amelia Lewis on 17 Jul 1884 in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia. Amelia Lewis ⁽²⁹⁾ was born about 1866. She died on 17 Jul 1894 in Pt. Frederick, Tasmania, Australia. She was buried in East Devonport, Tasmania, Australia.

He was married to Mary Isobel Cameron on 31 Dec 1895 in Mersey, Tasmania, Australia. Mary Isobel Cameron⁽²⁹⁾ was born on 29 May 1873 in Deloraine, Tasmania, Australia. She died on 19 Sep 1970 in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia. She was buried on 21 Sep 1970 in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.

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Last modified: Tuesday, 17 February, 2009