John Elliott’s Tribute To Tasmania’s Sir Henry Jones – Born 149 Years Ago

It was 149 years ago today, 19th July 1862 when Tasmania’s famous industrialist, entrepreneur, jam maker and merchant, Sir Henry Jones was born in Hobart Town, Tasmania. In fact, in my opinion he was Australia’s first major industrialist as he introduced fruit canning to Australia and overseas, started Australia’s first hops farms in Tasmania, a major ingredient for making beer, and was first to export apples to England.

He was the driving force behind the successful growth of the Henry Jones IXL jam, timber and export business in the early 1900s where the original Henry Jones factory site still stands today as a top class hotel, The Henry Jones Art Hotel. I was there two weeks ago and my tour of the Hotel brought back many memories of my early days at Henry Jones in Hobart back in the 1970s.

His role in building the Henry Jones business is covered in more detail in my business life documentary shown each week on my website.

I believe Sir Henry’s 150TH Anniversary next year should be properly recognised for his major contribution to Tasmania and the mainland. I intend to shortly initiate discussions with The Henry Jones Hotel management to outline my interest in joining with them in holding a special function in July 2012 to celebrate Sir Henry’s life. My time as CEO of Henry Jones IXL, then Elders IXL and Fosters from 1972 to 1991 was a very important and memorable period of my life.

The old Henry Jones Hobart jam factory site would be a very appropriate venue for such a function.

John D Elliott

For more information on Sir Henry Jones, please click here.

For more information on Henry Jones Hotel, go to www.thehenryjones.com

To view my Business Life introduction, please click here.