Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
James Lawrence Kelly, Shire Chairman. Photos sourced and supplied with thanks: Hinchinbrook Shire Council Library Photograph Collection
By Dr Bianka Vidonja Balanzategui
No doubt the whole community is eagerly awaiting the refurbishment of the Ingham picture theatre. So what better time to learn about its namesake – James Lawrence ‘Larry’ Kelly, an energetic, hardworking local devoted to the betterment of the Herbert River district and its citizens.
Larry was born in Ipswich in 1910 and educated by the Christian Brothers. After working for the Taxation Department, he arrived in Ingham in 1935 to work for the firm E.J. Hardy and G.G. Venables, and in the same year, he married Ella Veronica Hanlon.
In 1936 at the age of 26 he was elected as Hinchinbrook Shire Chairman, becoming the youngest shire chairman in Australia at the time. He also was selected as the Shire’s representative on the Townsville Hospital Board and was conducting his own accountancy business. Later he would also act as secretary of the local Fire Brigade Board.
In 1943 he retired from both positions and was seconded to the Allied Works Department.
In 1946, 1949 and 1952 he again successfully contested the Hinchinbrook Shire Chairman position. He also served as the Shire’s representative and Chairman for TREB until his death in 1952, and delegate to the NQLAA as both vice-president and president until he retired from the latter position in 1951 due to ill health.
As an executive member of the Ingham branch of the Labor Party (and President from 1944) he attempted to enter parliament at both the State and Federal levels without success. He had previously been elected as Shire Chairman on a Labour Party ticket but on becoming personally disillusioned he and two fellow council members resigned from the Labour Party. It was as an independent that he was elected as Shire Chairman in 1952 which he considered a personal triumph.
He was a gifted speaker and had a great skill in controlling meetings and keeping speakers on topic and within the prescribed time limit. He was popular, conscientious and active though his detractors accused him of dominating the Council.
He was also fair-minded, compassionate and sensible. A dedicated Catholic, friend and supporter of the Christian Brothers.
In 1937, in defence of the industrious, law-abiding Italian immigrant community, Larry emphatically denied “the wild rumours of an alleged organised secret society of assassin-racketeers, known as the dreaded "Camorra" or "Black Hand".” Instead he identified Ingham’s Mano Nera as a “small fringe of low-class foreign undesirables” who should be deported.
Again, his good sense and compassion were visible in his support of Councillors Frederick Hecht and Giuseppe Cantamessa on the outbreak of WW2 when others doubted their loyalty. He reminded those doubters of how much Hecht and Cantamessa had contributed to the district.
When Larry and his wife flew south to spend some months in Brisbane on the weekend 8-9 November 1952, he had been ill for some time. Barely three weeks later on 29th November, he died at the age of 42 leaving behind his wife Ella and son James. Larry is buried in the Toowong Cemetery.
Seven months later in June 1953, in tribute to Larry, his significant contributions to the Herbert River District, and at the suggestion of Councillor W.O. Garbutt, the new library was opened and dedicated to James Lawrence Kelly by the new chairman E.L. Burke as the J.L. Kelly Memorial Library.
Publishers Indemnity. Any individual or entity that places advertising, supplies copy material, or submits editorial content to Life Publishing agrees and undertakes to ensure that all such material:- Does not infringe upon any copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights;- Is free from any content that could be considered defamatory, libelous, or slanderous;- Does not infringe upon any rights related to privacy or breach of confidence;- Contains no obscene, indecent, or otherwise unlawful material;- Complies fully with the Trade Practices Act and all other applicable laws, regulations, or statutes. Furthermore, by submitting or placing such material, these individuals or entities agree to indemnify and hold harmless the publisher, Life Publishing and Events Pty Ltd, and/or its agents from and against any and all investigations, claims, demands, liabilities, damages, costs, or judgments arising out of or in connection with the material provided. All material is believed to be accurate at the time of printing and remains the copyright of Life Publishing and Events Pty Ltd.
© 2026 Life Publishing Group Ltd.
