William Thomas Appleton (1859–1930), was an Australian businessman, shipping agent and public servant.
[1] In late 1859 the Appleton family visited a maternal uncle (William Burnley) who ran an import-export agency in the Port Phillip District, after which William Appleton returned to England and completed his education at Wharfdale College, Yorkshire.
He then returned with his parents to Victoria in 1869 settling in Geelong, where he attended the Melbourne Church of England Grammar School in 1872–73.
[1] He worked with his brother (Colonel) George Burnley Appleton (1850–1945) at his Geelong woolbroking firm.
Later he was chairman of Huddart Parker & Co. Pty Ltd. Appleton joined this firm in Geelong c. 1884 becoming Manager in 1887, then moving to the Melbourne office.