Julian Tenison-Woods attended school in Hammersmith and Newington, England. He worked with the Times newspaper and as a school assistant before joining the Passionist Order. In 1854 Tenison-Woods travelled to Van Diemen's Land, arriving the following year. He worked with the Adelaide Times prior to entering the Jesuit College at Clare, South Australia.
Tenison-Woods was ordained in 1857 and placed in charge of the parish of Penola. With Mary McKillop he helped found the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart in 1866. Tenison-Woods continued his involvement with print publications and in the education field. He often clashed with his superiors over his strongly held beliefs.
Tenison-Woods contributed to the early recording of Australian geology, palaeontology and zoology. He also travelled into Asia and wrote extensively of his observations. He belonged to a range of scientific organisations and was a fellow of the Linnean Society of London and a president of its New South Wales branch.
Tenison-Woods died of paralysis in 1889 and was buried in the Waverley Cemetery, New South Wales. His ancestors include several prominent Irish Catholic and Anglican leaders.
Source: Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol.6, (1976)
