Thomas Richard Abell took up land at future site of Airlie Beach in 1904 to grow tropical fruit and vegetables. Also had timber interests on the Whitsunday Islands. He was granted occupation licence 350 for Hayman Island on 4 May 1910. He was a sick man (died in 1915) and his name appears on the licence because there was a family company, T. R. Abell and Sons. The island worked by the son, Arthur Edward Abell, who ran sheep and goats there. In later years the Abell brothers had a timber camp on the beach on Hook Island opposite Hayman Island where they cut timber for the Townsville timber firm of Rooney & Co.
Thomas Aitken arrived in Townsville in 1867 and took up 3500 acres on Ross Island (now South Townsville and Railway Estate) and establishing a dairy farm. He began subdividing the property during the 1880s, putting 440 quarter-acre residential allotments on the market in a development which he named Aitkenvale.
Christopher Allingham Australian Dictionary of Biography
Reginald Ansett, founder of Ansett Airlines, bought Hayman Island in 1947, building the Royal Hayman resort which opened in 1950. Wikipedia entry Australian Dictionary of Biography ABC TV Dynasties
Aplin Brothers operated the 120 ton Hannah Broomfield in and out of Burketown.
William Aplin, businessman, pastoralist and parliamentarian Australian Dictionary of Biography
J.D. Armitage occupied a pastoral run around Eimeo in the 1870s. He claimed to have been born on Eimeo Island in Tahiti, the son of early missionaries.
John Atherton Australian Dictionary of Biography
William Atherton, son (or brother?) of John Atherton