According to his obituary in the Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate, J. Stanley Hughes was born in England and 'educated at the Blue Coat School at Horsham'—most likely Christ's Hospital, founded as a charitable school in 1552 and known as 'bluecoat' from its uniforms. (A number of other schools were founded in its image and also known as Bluecoat Schools.)
He arrived in Queensland as a young man, and was said to have undertaken jackerooing, station work, droving, and other pioneer and bushwork. As a member of the Bushmans' Contigent, he took part in the Boer War, serving under Major-General Sir Charles Chauvel (a relative of film-maker Charles Chauvel). He also served in World War I.
Returning to Australia, he worked as a journalist and editor, most notably as the editor of the The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate, a position he held for five years. He later returned to England where he wrote about colonial life, most particularly for Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine: some samples of this work were re-published in 'Blackwood' Tales from the Outpost anthologies.
His daughter, Thea Stanley Hughes, was born in England but raised in Australia, and later became the founder and president of the Australian Women's League of Health.
Sources include
'J, Stanley Hughes Dies in England', Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate, 9 February 1933, p.2.
'Thea Stanley Hughes', Wikipedia. Sighted 14/03/2023.
