Bland Holt

Holt was born at Norwich, England, came to Australia with his father, an actor/manager,[1] in 1857, and made his first appearance on the stage when he was six years old.

His first production was Paul Merritt's play New Babylon at the Royal Victoria Theatre, Sydney, with Myra Kemble as the leading lady.

[1] The play started a six week Sydney season on 24 April 1880 before moving to the Theatre Royal, Melbourne.

[1] Holt himself had been an excellent clown in pantomime, and he played comedy parts in melodrama with great ability.

He was prudent and successful in management and retired in 1909, living at Sunninghill in Cotham Rd (building now stands but are offices) Kew, Victoria, a Melbourne suburb, for part of the year, and in summer spending his time at his seaside home at Sorrento, Victoria.