Bill Poland was the son of an English pearler and a Malayan Aboriginal mother. He began working with his father at a young age. When Bill was prospecting, he came across a precious mineral known as beryl and the British Metals Corporation paid him a large amount of money for the site he recovered it from. Bill spent some time in the army during the Second World War and married a woman named Nora after being discharged. His relationship was ruined by alcohol and Bill left is wife and took up carving. Learning how to carve emu eggs from an elder on Doorawarrah Station, people began to seek his work. Arthritis became a problem for his hands and Bill had to reduce the amount of work.
