James Jolly

Biography

James Jolly's working life began with a joiner's apprenticeship in Muthill, Scotland, and continued in the building trades of northern New South Wales, on Australia’s east coast. His obituary records work in Glasgow and Edinburgh before he went to sea as a ship's carpenter.

In the Richmond River district, he worked on the Rous sugar mill and entered a partnership that became Brown & Jolly. The firm combined building, sawmilling and joinery. It also gave his son Alexander practical experience before architectural training in Sydney.

James and his wife Jessie Spence Stewart raised their family in the district. Alexander was born at Wardell, in that coastal region, in 1887. James later retired from business, but retained connections with the nearby city of Lismore’s civic and sporting organizations. His obituary names the Chamber of Commerce, bowling club and Caledonian Band among them.

He died in Lismore Base Hospital in January 1940.