Obituaries Australia

Mr. James B. Willis, who died in Perth recently in his 88th year, was one of Western Australia's best known pastoral identities, having been associated with the development of several important holdings during his long life. Mr. Wilis went to Western Australia from Victoria before the turn of the century to try his luck at gold mining in the Nannine district, but later moved to Leonora and established a successful butchering and stock dealing business in partnership with the late Mr. Jack Tulloch. In 1908 he and the late Mr. Thomas Mellen acquired Wongawol Station, comprising approximately one million acres, and situated about 230 miles north of Leonora, and later Mr. Willis extended his interests by purchasing Windidda, situated south of Wongawol, and Clover Downs, a small depot property near Leonora. For many years Mr. Willis made his home at Clover Downs and established on the property a first class flock of Bungaree blood Merino sheep. On Wongawol and Windiddi cattle were bred and fattened for the Kalgoorlie and Perth markets, while a large number of horses was also sold from time to time. During the last two years Mr. Willis had disposed of Wongawol and Windiddi and had lived in retirement. He is survived by his wife and daughter, his only son having been killed during the second world war.