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The Holm Family
Descriptive Data
TypeAgencyDate RangeUnknownDescriptionPehr Ferdinand Holm was from Sweden, born in 1844. He gained his first mate's certificate in 1867, and in 1868 he arrived in Wellington, New Zealand, as an able seaman. Ferdinand Holm began work as a pilot in 1870, living in the pilot house at Worser Bay.
In 1870 Ferdinand Holm married Mary Alexander Callan and they had five daughters and four sons.
All of Ferdinand and Mary's sons became engaged in seafaring. Sydney and Mariner became master mariners, and Ferdinand and John Herman trained as marine engineers. Sydney also ran the business both before and after his father's death, and was responsible for its being registered as the Holm Shipping Company. Three of Ferdinand and Mary's daughters became primary school teachers.
Captain Sydney Holm passed his master's certificate when 21 years old and commanded all of the Holm ship but mainly the Helen Denny. After the death of Ferdinand in 1917 he managed the ship owning businesses. J. Herman Holm trained as a marine engineer and served on Holm ships and also as branch manager and as an engineer with other shipping companies. Captain Mariner Tucker Holm was master of all the Holm vessels from 1922 until 1937. He was later general secretary of Waterside Employers Association.
Mary Holm died in 1908 and Ferdinand Holm died in 1917.
Part of the collection consists of personal records of the Holm family, most of them
belonging to Captain John F Holm who was manager of the Holm Shipping Company from 1952.
The Holm Shipping Company was founded by Ferdinand Holm in the early 1900s and was managed by members of the Holm Family until it was disestablished in 1973. The Holm Shipping Company was also referred to as the Green Funnel Line due to the bright green funnel which signified a Holm boat.
In 1930 the Union Steam Ship Company acquired a controlling interest in the company, purchasing it completely in 1968 and running it as a subsidiary under the management of Captain J F Holm.
In 1972 control of Union Company subsidiaries including Holm Shipping Company passed into the hands of Thomas Nationwide Transport of Australia and New Zealand Maritime Holdings on a 50/50 basis, with the ships being sold within a couple of years. John Holm retired one month After this transfer of control.
Captain John Holm also formed a small shipping company called the Southern Cross Shipping Company with a number of ex servicemen after the 2 World War.
The Lankshear's became part of the Holm family when Ellen (Nell) Lankshear married John Brentford Holm in 1919. Ellen (born 1894) was the youngest child and only daughter of William and Lydia Lankshear; she had four brothers: Frederick (born 1885), Charles (born 1887), Alfred (born 1889), and Bernard (born 1893) and all siblings were born in New Zealand.
John and Ellen (Nell) Holm's children were Jean, Margaret, Barbara, and Jocelyn.
These records were received from Barbara Mountier nee Holm.
External LinksHolm & Company on NZ Ship and Marine Society
In 1870 Ferdinand Holm married Mary Alexander Callan and they had five daughters and four sons.
All of Ferdinand and Mary's sons became engaged in seafaring. Sydney and Mariner became master mariners, and Ferdinand and John Herman trained as marine engineers. Sydney also ran the business both before and after his father's death, and was responsible for its being registered as the Holm Shipping Company. Three of Ferdinand and Mary's daughters became primary school teachers.
Captain Sydney Holm passed his master's certificate when 21 years old and commanded all of the Holm ship but mainly the Helen Denny. After the death of Ferdinand in 1917 he managed the ship owning businesses. J. Herman Holm trained as a marine engineer and served on Holm ships and also as branch manager and as an engineer with other shipping companies. Captain Mariner Tucker Holm was master of all the Holm vessels from 1922 until 1937. He was later general secretary of Waterside Employers Association.
Mary Holm died in 1908 and Ferdinand Holm died in 1917.
Part of the collection consists of personal records of the Holm family, most of them
belonging to Captain John F Holm who was manager of the Holm Shipping Company from 1952.
The Holm Shipping Company was founded by Ferdinand Holm in the early 1900s and was managed by members of the Holm Family until it was disestablished in 1973. The Holm Shipping Company was also referred to as the Green Funnel Line due to the bright green funnel which signified a Holm boat.
In 1930 the Union Steam Ship Company acquired a controlling interest in the company, purchasing it completely in 1968 and running it as a subsidiary under the management of Captain J F Holm.
In 1972 control of Union Company subsidiaries including Holm Shipping Company passed into the hands of Thomas Nationwide Transport of Australia and New Zealand Maritime Holdings on a 50/50 basis, with the ships being sold within a couple of years. John Holm retired one month After this transfer of control.
Captain John Holm also formed a small shipping company called the Southern Cross Shipping Company with a number of ex servicemen after the 2 World War.
The Lankshear's became part of the Holm family when Ellen (Nell) Lankshear married John Brentford Holm in 1919. Ellen (born 1894) was the youngest child and only daughter of William and Lydia Lankshear; she had four brothers: Frederick (born 1885), Charles (born 1887), Alfred (born 1889), and Bernard (born 1893) and all siblings were born in New Zealand.
John and Ellen (Nell) Holm's children were Jean, Margaret, Barbara, and Jocelyn.
These records were received from Barbara Mountier nee Holm.
External LinksHolm & Company on NZ Ship and Marine Society
Series
The Holm Family. Archives Online, accessed 06/04/2026, https://archivesonline.wcc.govt.nz/nodes/view/7805