Edward Dundas Holroyd

Holroyd made a great reputation as a barrister in equity and mining suits, and in 1872 was offered a seat on the bench of the supreme court.

He refused this, became a Queen's Counsel in 1879, and on 19 August 1881 became a puisne judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria, a position he held until 9 May 1906.

He would not allow himself to be ruffled, and it is related that once when he had sentenced a prisoner named Butler for highway robbery, the man, almost foaming at the mouth, heaped curses on the judge.

Holroyd retired in 1906 and died at his home, Fernacres, in Alma Road, St Kilda, Melbourne, on 5 January 1916.

He was an eminently fair judge, particularly patient with men conducting their own defence, or a barrister struggling with a poor case.