FITZ, William Billy

Name – FITZ, William Billy
Born – 1878
Died – 16/09/1944
Location – No 64, Anglican Section
Mother – Jane
Father – William Fitz

Notes – William, known as Billy, was born in 1878 at Toolburra Station near Warwick, Queensland to William and Jane Fitz. His father had moved to Australia from America and his mother was an aboriginal woman. They seem to move from job to job.

William senior and his wife Jane were taken from the Warwick area and relocated to Bogimah, Frazer Island in around 1901. In a letter from Billy’s father sent through an agent, they sought permission from the government in 1903 to travel by rail from Piabla to see their sons who were known to be at Mr Lawlor’s Station Bengala.

Billy married Lily Brennan in 27th September 1913 at Goondiwindi after having to seek the Government Department of the days permission to do so because of his half cast status.

Billy and Lily had eight children together, these being Elizabeth, Lillian, Vera Rose, Eva May, Harold, Richard, Noel and William.

Their daughter, Vera Rose married John Cleven in later years. One of Billy’s last jobs was working as a boundary rider at Wyaga near Goondiwindi.

Billy died in the Tara Hospital in September 1944 from a form of cancer. At the time he was living at Meandarra.

FITZ, William Billy has no headstone on his grave.

Newspaper Article –

War Service File  –

Learn more about the Tara Cemetery here.