Obituaries Australia

William Kelman, n.d.

from Pastoral Review and Graziers' Record, 16 November 1955

Mr. William Nivison Kelman, who died on the 22nd October at Sydney at the age of 78, was a son of John Busby Kelman and Mrs. Kelman who, previous to her marriage, was Agnes Nicholas Nivison, of New England, N.S.W. Although he followed banking as a career, Mr. Kelman came from a well-known grazing family, his uncle, Mr. A. A. W. Nivison, of Tillimby, Paterson River, N.S.W., being a prominent bloodstock breeder and grazier.

The late Mr. W. N. Kelman fought throughout the South African war with the Australian Mounted Bushmen, and on his return from active service joined the Bank of Australasia. He was at Narrabri and Wee Waa, N.S.W., for some time prior to his appointment as manager at Blayney, N.S.W. Later he joined the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and served as manager at Launceston, Tas., and then went to London as accountant to that office. On his return he became manager at Perth, W.A., and then manager at Melbourne, after which he was appointed manager of the bank at Sydney, which position he held for 13 years until his retirement.

The late Mr. Kelman, who was 6 ft. 2 in. in height, was a very fine type of Australian, with an outstanding personality. He was a good all-round sportsman, had a keen brain, and was particularly interested in all matters pertaining to the rural industries. His brothers, now all deceased, were mostly on the land, the youngest being Abraham (Abe), a grazier of the Moree (N.S.W.) district. The Busby family—early pioneers—were also his relatives.

The late Mr. Kelman had three sons, John Nivison, Robert Nivison, and Dryan Nivison, and they and his widow survive him.