Obituaries Australia

Henry Coldham, n.d.

from Pastoral Review, 16 March 1922

By the unexpected death of Mr. Henry Albert Coldham, which took place in a private hospital at Sydney on the 17th ultimo, there has been removed from the pastoral world of Queensland a well known and highly esteemed figure.

Born on 11th August, 1863, at Grassdale Station, Hamilton, Victoria, he was, at the time of his decease, in his 59th year, and right up to that event he was particularly vigorous and appeared to be in the best of health. He was the son of the late John Coldham, who in the late thirties arrived in Australia with his brother from Norfolk, England, and entered into pastoral pursuits by taking up country upon which they established Grassdale Station. It was therefore in a pastoral atmosphere that the late Mr. H. A. Coldham commenced his life, and as the years passed his education was conducted first by private tutors, and then by the principal of Hamilton College.

After leaving school he entered the service of the Bank of Australasia for three years to acquire a knowledge of financial affairs and business routine. At the end of that period he returned to Grassdale, and seriously entered upon a pastoral training under the supervision and guidance of his father. At the age of twenty-one he was sent by his father to Wolfang Station, Queensland, owned by John Coldham and Co., for further experience under the management of the late P. H. B. Turner. Five years afterwards he acquired a property at Saltern, which he named Dunraven.

He subsequently took his brother, Mr. Alfred E. Coldham, into partnership with him, but continued the sole management himself, until, owing to the death of his brother, Mr. John Coldham, he returned to Wolfang and assumed control there. In 1902 he relinquished the active management of pastoral affairs, and proceeding to Sydney, enjoyed a well-earned rest, but returned to his former activities after a short period of city life.

In 1909 he disposed of Dunraven, having some years previously bought out his brother's interest in it. The following year, in conjunction with Mr. James Allison, he purchased Lammermoor Station, in the Prairie district, Queensland, a property of 950 square miles in area. Later on this property was subdivided and sold, Mr. Coldham retaining for himself 66,000 acres surrounding the original homestead. For some little time he stocked it with sheep, but ultimately converted it into a cattle property, his fine Herefords being well known in the northern State.

Mr. Coldham was connected with the well-known stock and station firm of Gordon and Coldham, Sydney, and occupied various positions in public life in Queensland. Interested in sporting matters, he was a member of the Australian Jockey Club, Townsville Amateur Turf Club, and the Central Queensland Racing Executive. He was also a member of the Union Club, Sydney, the Queensland Club, Brisbane, and the North Queensland Club, Townsville.

Mr. Coldham was a man of pleasant personality and strong character, and he leaves a very wide circle of friends and acquaintances who will feel his loss very acutely. He is survived by his wife, two sons (Mr. Keith Gordon Coldham and Mr. Henry Clive Coldham), and two daughters.