ELIZABETH NICOLSON - A pioneer of tourism

Elizabeth Nicolson nee Miller was born in Bowen March 12, 1884. She married Angus DeSalis Nicolson on June 17, 1914. Initially, they went to live with her family in Argyle Park, Bowen (near Queen’s Beach).

The Nicolson family association with Lindeman Island began in 1923 when Angus went to the island and saw its potential for tourism and established a rudimentary camp for visitors.  Elizabeth purchased the licence to the island in her name that year a precursor to Lindeman becoming the first of the Whitsunday Island tourism resorts.

With their three children – Lachlan De Salis born 1915, Donald Archibald (Archie) born 1918, Elizabeth Margaret (Betty) born 1921 – Elizabeth travelled via coastal steamer, QGS Relief, the primary transport mode to the islands, and joined Angus on Lindeman Island in 1925.

For a young family, Lindeman Island was quite isolated in terms of access to many mainland advantages such as medical care and schools. With a young family, Elizabeth no doubt experienced many tense times weathering the storms of childhood illnesses and injuries in the very early days.  If Angus was away on the island’s boat, Aladdin, it was extremely difficult to obtain medical help. The nearest doctor was a slow boat’s sail to the mainland.  

The Relief, the government lighthouse vessel, called once per month or a passing ketch could be hailed.  However, the children had a lot of fun and were quite healthy being brought up on physical activity, home grown produce and well away from coastal epidemics. When of school age, they began correspondence school with the task of teaching falling to their mother, Elizabeth.

It must be said though that Lindeman was not a lonely place as it was popular with boats passing through and had a welcoming reputation.  

Elizabeth worked in partnership with Angus to manage the island grazing business (already established) and develop a base for tourism – their shared dream for the island. In 1926, they obtained a special lease for fourteen years for grazing purposes.

In the early days, the family lived in the residence built by the former owners, the Addisons, and adapted to life on an isolated island – running sheep; obtaining water from the island’s wells and springs; growing a variety of fruits and vegetables – gradually adding facilities to cater to tourists including the Embury scientific expeditions which began in 1928.

In 1932, Elizabeth and Angus applied for a new lease to develop tourism on the island which by then had ‘comfortable grass cabins, electric light and running water in every room.’ In 1934, Elizabeth took on the role of island secretary for syndicate formed with Gordon-MacLeod of Sydney, the Nicolsons and Mel Ward, expert in marine zoology.

Eventually, in 1938, Elizabeth and Angus, bought out other shareholders and divided them equally amongst the children and themselves.  Until her passing in 1958, the business would be a shared family venture. All children, their spouses and her grandchildren remained involved and lived on the island during her lifetime.

Elizabeth lived to see the dream that she and Angus had worked towards, where the island, set in the waters of the beautiful Whitsunday Passage, was transformed into a highly popular resort with all the facilities needed to attract tourists from far afield - built accommodations, dining hall, recreation lounge, tennis court, golf course, air strip, and the island’s own boats.

Even royalty knew about Lindeman. In 1954, the Royal yacht Britannia anchored off Lindeman and Queen Elizabeth II swam in the waters nearby, during her visit to Australia.

Story and photo courtesy Proserpine Historical Museum.

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