P005884 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 2017-11-07 human Elizabeth Daniels updated 2025-08-05 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P005884b.htm person Holmes William AACR2 c. 1797 1831 Place of Birth Lancashire, England Place of Death Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia Zoological collector William Holmes was born in Lancashire England before settling in Sydney in 1827. William Holmes was the first appointed 'Zoologist' and a superintendent of the newly established Museum of New South Wales, now known as the Australian museum. Although William Holmes does not appear to have had any formal scientific training, he was a carpenter and joiner by trade, he appears to have been actively involved in collecting specimens for the new museum. Some sources argue his carpentry skills would have been very useful in building the display cabinets and cases to house the growing collection of the Museum of New South Wales. William Holmes dies in 1831 after a shooting accident while collecting specimens for the museum. 1829 1831 Career position - Superintendent and Zoologist, Museum of New South Wales Australian Museum (1827 - ) 1829 1831

First appointed zoologist

 'Holmes, William', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Holmes, William Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Newspaper Article: Swan River Swan River 1830 The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser 2 Resource Section: William Holmes: Enigma Johnston, Colin William Holmes: Enigma Australian Museum 2014 Australian Museum Resource Section: August 23, 1831 - Shot With His Own Gun Finney, Vanessa August 23, 1831 - Shot With His Own Gun Australian Museum 2013 Australian Museum Resource Section: William Holmes, Zoologist, 1829 - 1831 William Holmes, Zoologist, 1829 - 1831 Australian Museum 2014 Australian Museum Resource Section: The Museums Early Days Docker, Rose The Museums Early Days Australian Museum 2014 Australian Museum Journal Article: William Holmes the Australian Museum's First Custodian Whitley, G. P. William Holmes the Australian Museum's First Custodian 1961 The Australian Museum Magazine 13 306