William Robert Fossey Bolton

William Robert Fossey Bolton MBE (24 May 1905 – 1973) was a transport businessman and philanthropist, who lived in the Toowoomba area of South East Queensland, Australia. His efforts saw the creation of a library and art gallery focused on Australian heritage of European settlement, and his interest in preserving the memory of horse-drawn transport contributed to a museum collection.

Personal life Born to Henry Fossey Bolton and Flora Grace Mackay, Bolton was one of five children – Agnes (b. 1904), Heather (b. 1907), Henry (b. 1908), and Grant (b. 1913). A young Bill Bolton was raised in Brisbane, before some primary school education at the town of Charleville in western Queensland. In sheep-farming country, the area was serviced by the horse-drawn Cobb & Co transport company, which was to make an impression on Bolton. In April 1918 the family, now living in the large provincial town of Toowoomba, started to experience financial hardship when the twelve-year-old Bill found the body of his father who had committed suicide. A scholarship allowed Bolton to attend the Toowoomba Grammar School, and in 1920, he became a junior clerk with the Queensland Government's Lands Department in Brisbane.

Additional to his philanthropic endeavours as a benefactor, Bolton celebrated his Mackay clan heritage and was an inaugural member of the Society of Saint Andrew of Scotland (Queensland branch). with a settlement made by Bolton in 1954. The heavy road haulage firm traded on the name association with the former Cobb & Co.

In 1957 a dispute with the Queensland Government commenced over newly introduced transport licensing fees. The dispute ran until 1966 when the Privy Council ruled against Bolton.

In 1966 Bolton was awarded a Order of the British Empire (MBE) in recognition of his charitable endeavours in the Toowoomba region. Whilst the nomination was endorsed by the Queensland premier Frank Nicklin, the same government had earlier sought to question Bolton's integrity.

Legacy Not forgetting the charity provided to his family when his father died, Bolton provided many bursaries to youth in country areas, and funded several other community-minded facilities and services.

Throughout his life, Bolton collected twenty-eight horse and carriage vehicles for his own private museum which was opened to the public in Toowoomba in 1965. Over the years archival material was assembled, including interviews with past Cobb & Co. employees.