He was born in Moonee Ponds to produce merchant John Henry Holden and Ada Wanstall.
During World War II he served with the Royal Australian Air Force.
On 5 November 1943 he married Lisbeth Gilbertson Hutton, with whom he had three children; this marriage was later dissolved.
In 1955 he was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly as the Liberal and Country Party member for Moonee Ponds.
He was subsequently a partner in an architects' firm, and on 11 June 1976 married Shirley Heather Dawn, who predeceased him.