26 May 1871 Wellington Road Launceston Tasmania Australia Alice Matilda Ray Edmund Ray, Alfred Collan, Leila Elsie, Ronald James & Alma Florence

Edmund Harry Nicholas was born in Milton, New Zealand, in 1870, a son of Collan Nicholas (1837-1909), a photographer, and his wife Emily Caroline Harry (1849-1920). Edmund was a grocer. He was living in Wellington Road at the time of the Exhibition and sang in the bass section in the Choir in 1891-92. Edmund married Alice Matilda Ray on 24 Aug 1896 at Launceston. Their first two children were born in Launceston: Ray in Jun 1897 and Alfred in Oct 1900.

In 1904 the family had moved to Mackay, Queensland, on the Laura, following other members of the Nicholas family. Due to the ill health of Alice, their doctor advised them to move to a warmer climate, so they moved further north to Proserpine, where it rained almost continuously for 12 months. Edmund travelled about the district conducting his photography business in a tent, later working out of a studio in Proserpine. Edmund's health declined due to a reaction to the chemicals used for photographic development. He sold the business, then gained employment with Faust Bros, a general store, where he was a bookkeeper for many years. Again, due to ill health, he convalesced at his residence on Anzac Road, cared for by his devoted wife Alice, until his demise aged 67 on 15 Aug 1937.

Meg Sargent May 2009