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General First nameWalter Timon
LastnameColdham
GenderMale
CountryAustralia
Date of birth1860-11-19
Place of birthGrassdale, Victoria, Australia
Date of death1908-05-29
Place of deathin Saint Kilda, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia


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From The Age (Melbourne), 30 May 1908

Obituary

Death of Mr Walter T.Coldham

By the death of Mr Walter Timon Coldham, who expired early yesterday morning at his residence, Hotham Street, East Saint Kilda, the Victorian Bar loses one of its most accomplished members. Mr Coldham was widely known, and was as widely esteemed. The late Mr Coldham was one peculiarly furnished by nature to occupy a prominent place among his fellow men. He was endowed with intelligence of a high order, and furnished with physical attributes that enabled him to excel in the purely manly side of life.

Though suffering intensely from the malady which finally ended his life, Mr Coldham fought against it with the stubborn gameness that was characteristic of him, and it was not until his constitution refused to support his determined will that he relinquished his active legal work. For several weeks Mr Coldham had been confined to his room, suffering intense pain, and though he knew his end was rapidly approaching, his strong vital power sustained him in a wonderful way. His medical attendants, Dr Davenport, Dr Stawell and Dr W. Moore, who had been ceaseless in their endeavours to relieve him, were struck with the fortitude with which the patient keen suffering from which death relieved him at 10am yesterday.

Mr Coldham was a Victorian native, the son of one of the pioneer pastoralists of the State. He was born in November 1860, at Grassdale in the western district – the estate of his father – and he matriculated from Hamilton College, where he obtained his early scholastic training. He then attended the Melbourne Grammar School, where he distinguished himself as one of the most brilliant students and finest athletes of his term. Mr Coldham took up the study of law at the Melbourne University, and in 1884, when 24 years of age, he was called to the Bar with the degree of Bachelor of Laws.

In the earlier stage of his career in the courts, Mr Coldham was largely associated with Mr James L. Purves, who invariably spoke of his junior as a man of rare ability. Mr Coldham’s strong point as a barrister was his ratiocinative ability. He seemed to be able to assimilate the most intricate brief with speed, and to bring out its salient points with lucidity and impressiveness. He was a good pleader, possessing a clear, well-modulated voice, and a manner which always put him on good terms with a jury.

During his career at the Bar, Mr Coldham was briefed in most of the important cases of his time, and always his work was characterised by close and earnest study. His last important work in court was accomplished in the Wallace divorce case. He had been chosen to conduct the Sunshine inquiry, but had reluctantly to retire from it by reason of failing health.

The late Mr Coldham was a noted athlete. As an amateur he was probably for many years the best all-round man in Victoria, and most likely could not have been excelled in Australia. He was a champion runner – flat and hurdles; a fine shot, a good oarsman, a particularly smart boxer, a cricketer, footballer, cyclist and, with Mr Walter Carre Riddell, was the holder of the tennis championship pair for years. He had won a profusion of trophies at every branch of athletics he went in for. His example and his voice were always used to urge the young to keep physically and mentally fit.

The later Mr Coldham was 48 years of age. He leaves a widow [née Edith Lucy Pinnoc], a son and a daughter.

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Archive statistics Career1885 - 1887
Tournament wins0
Matches8
Match wins5


Tournaments Victorian Championships - 1887 Victorian Championships - 1886 Victorian Championships - 1885