[1] His early education was at Calder House in Redfern when Dr Joseph David Sly (1844–1934) was the proprietor and headmaster.

[2][3] After that notable independent school closed down in Sydney Julius was enrolled aged 12 at Newington College on 28 January 1880.

In October 1923 he won an appointment as Conservator of Forests in South Australia, succeeding Walter Gill.

The appointment was controversial, having been made by the Government against the recommendation of the Public Service Board, and also criticised by H. H. Corbin for having no knowledge of silviculture, or of South Australian conditions, when there were many Adelaide graduates of the university's School of Forestry better qualified.

Julius, with J. S. Barnes and Charles H. Homes, general manager of Sapfor,[b] developed and patented a technique for speedier kiln-drying of Pinus insignis (or radiata) timber.