William Shand Mollison (1839 - 1912) was born in Scotland and had a career at sea from apprentice to ship's master. He arrived in Emu Bay (Burnie) in the 1850s where he established himself as a ship builder (building the 'Onward' and the 'Cambria') , farmer, Government inspector of wharves and bridges, and overseer of the construction of the Burnie Breakwater. He married Fanny Spooner in 1861 and together they had four sons and two daughters. He died in 1912 aged 83.