AustLit

James Chisholm was born on the Loddon River in Victoria, and worked on railway construction in Queensland and on cattle and sheep stations around the Dawson Valley and Peak Downs before settling on a cattle property near Townsville. His passion for the Australian bush and the North Queensland landscape inspired his writing, which appeared in his regular columns under the name of 'Along the Line', in The North Queensland Register and The Townsville Daily Bulletin. Much of his writing also drew on his previous occupations as railway construction worker, stock breeder, meatworks manager, and station owner. The pioneers of North Queensland and the Aboriginal people were other common themes.

The plaque on Chisholm's grave at Stanley reads: 'Erected by his many friends as a tribute to the memory of James Robertson Chisholm, "Along the Line," born in Victoria, 21st February 1856, who passed away at Stanley 13th November 1927. One who did his best.' Lists of contributors to the memorial fund were published in the North Queensland Register for several months from December 1927.

Source: LINQ, Vol. 9. No.3. 1981. p.150.