Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017:
Nolan, Edward

Teacher, administrator; born Dublin, 10 May 1826; died Hawthorn, Victoria, 11 January 1893, aged 66.

Edward Nolan entered the Society at Tullamore, 20 September 1850, as a priest, where he also studied theology, was director of the Sodality of Our Lady, and taught writing and book-keeping. He was a founding father to Australia in 1866 with Joseph Dalton, taught at St Patrick's College and performed pastoral work. During 1871-2 he toured Victoria and New Zealand seeking funds.

He went to Xavier College, Kew, in 1878, teaching bookkeeping and being minister. He was appointed rector in 1880, and was also a consultor of the mission. As rector, he was recognised as a financial manager, and was experienced as a strict disciplinarian. He built the South Wing and developed the farm, hoping that the College would be self-sufficient. He shared his hobby of amateur pharmacy with the boys, and was responsible for making a clear separation of dayboys and boarders - neither group mixing except during class time.

After completing his term as rector in 1886, he spent three years at Riverview, as procurator and consultor, and he also had care of the garden and farm. From 1889-93, he was engaged in pastoral work within the parish of Hawthorn, Victoria, where he was at various times, procurator, consultor, admonitor, and finally, spiritual father.

He was acknowledged as a very zealous and hardworking priest, but over-absorbed in money matters. Superiors obviously made use of his financial expertise or interest, even though his accounts were not always left in the best condition. His fund raising techniques did not always please diocesan priests. One monument to him was the parish church at Hawthorn.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)