Obituaries Australia

James Tolson, n.d.

from Pastoralists' Review, 15 January 1912

The death of Mr. James Tolson on the 4th of last month removed one of the old pioneers of Western Queensland.

Coming from an exceedingly old Yorkshire family, Mr. Tolson came to this country in 1872, first visiting New Zealand and Victoria.

Meeting Mr. Robert Christison, late of Lammermoor, near Hughenden, he purchased 500 square miles of country from him, and took up another 1000 square miles adjoining this, being Uanda Station, which he stocked with 2000 heifers from the southern border. In about 1883 he purchased about 600 square miles from the adjoining Bowen Downs Station, and part of this was turned into sheep country, and is now the best part of Corinda Station. In 1891 he purchased Aramac Station for £100,000. Just previous to 1900, when misfortune came, there were about 30,000 cattle on Uanda, 220,000 sheep on Corinda, and 150,000 sheep on Aramac.

Mr. Tolson was among the first to install the telephone system on his stations, connecting boundary riders' huts, outstations, &c., and in 1891 shearing machines (forty stands) were erected in the Corinda woolshed. He was also among the first private individuals to sink for artesian water, and at the end of 1887 eight fine bores were flowing on Corinda Station.

He was appointed on the commission when pleuro among cattle was at its height, and with Drs. Germon and Loir, from the Pasteur Institute, went thoroughly into the question and inoculated with great success.

Mr. Tolson stood for the Flinders electorate in about 1886, but was defeated by a very few votes. He took a keen interest in all pastoral matters, and worked hard in troubled times. He was compelled to read the Riot Act at Corinda Station during the 1891 strike.

Mr. Tolson was a widely-respected man, and none speak more highly of him than those who were in his employ. Before he left Corinda for the south in 1895 he was the recipient of an address from the shearers and shed hands, which speaks volumes for the fine feeling which existed between master and men.