Bonar, James Young

BONAR, James Young (1832–1869) was born in Gorbals, Lanarkshire, Scotland, eldest son of David Bonar, a grocer, and Janet McAdam. In 1851, he was listed as a grocer’s shopman; and in 1861, as a clerk. He arrived in Brisbane in April 1862 and by November, his firm Bonar & Co advertised as land brokers, commission agents and import merchants. He married Isabella Hunter in 1863. When his children were enrolled at the Brisbane National School he gave his occupation as architect. At various times Bonar offered to draw plans. He called tenders for brick nogging the Queensland Arms Hotel in 1865. Bonar continued to offer such services, until he became insolvent in the slump of 1867, among his creditors being the architect WH CHAMBERS. His insolvent estate comprised extensive properties, valued initially at £4,000 secured by a mortgage of £900 to Robert Cribb. The unsettled estate remained in the hands of the official assignee until 1885, when some properties were sold off unspecified for £1, when its value was later claimed to be £100,000, but the estate was not wound up until 1903 when further land was sold. His widow, whose sister was married to James ROBERTSON, outlived him by 60 years.