William Neilson was born in Scotland in 1842 but lived most of his life in Penola, South Australia. The Neilson family had a tradition in poetry writing, many of which were published in local newspapers. William is the brother of John Neilson (q.v.), and father of prolific poet John Shaw Neilson (q.v.). William Neilson received very little schooling, however he was a very well-read and self-educated man.
At the age of nine William worked for twelve hours a day in a cotton mill. At the age of eleven he joined his family in Victoria. While waiting to join the ship in Glasgow, he attended poor school for two weeks. This was to be his only formal schooling. After arriving in Victoria, he took a job on a station near Edenhope shepherding sheep. To further his education, William would borrow books and magazines sent to a 'remittance man' who lived nearby. Eventually, William joined his family in Penola where he was to establish his own timber milling business.
Penola, like many other small towns in the district, had its own Institute with an extensive library. For many years, William Neilson was President of the institute and at the time of his death in 1916, he was Chairman of the Penola District School Board of Advice.
Source: Peak, Andrew G. William Neilson : Bush Poet of Penola, Glandore, South Australia: Adelaide Proformat, 2009.
