Wm. Holyman & Sons Pty Limited

 This name of the Company dates from 1924, however its founder, the son of an English Master Mariner, arrived as an apprentice on the barque Elizabeth Radcliffe in Launceston, Tasmania seventy years earlier. Continuing his seafaring for some thirty years, he steadily (and through many adversities) built up his company, his fleet – initially ketches, paddle steamers and cutters - and his seafaring family. By the 1920s “Holymans” were trading to Victoria and South Australia as well as around Tasmania. Despite possessing a responsibly innovative and venturesome character, the Company’s maritime activity inevitably involved numerous ship casualties and crew losses, one claiming the life of one of the founder’s grandsons, the ship’s master. For a time the line went by the name of White Star Line. Remaining a private company, they branched post- Second World War into the airline industry (until 1957) and road transport although shipping remained central.

When the Second World War started Holyman had ten ships:

During the war years, Wannon was engaged in re-supply duties in the island areas of Papua New Guinea. Requisitioned were Laranah, Tambar for minesweeping, Mongana as an Examination, then stores vessel, while Lorinna came under control of the United States Small Ships Section.