Julia grew up in Burra, the daughter of John Riccardo Stephens, a Cornishman, homeopathic doctor, farmer, teacher, and shopkeeper who had studied for the Methodist ministry.[2] On 29 March 1877, at Burra, Holder married Frederick Holder, who was later a state and federal Member of Parliament, Premier of South Australia and first Speaker of the Australian Parliament.[3][1]
Lady Holder was president of many public bodies in Adelaide.[1] Holder was the National President (1912–1921) and South Australian State President (1902–1906) of the Australian Woman's Christian Temperance Union and a National President of the National Council of Women of Australia. Holder represented Australia at several WCTU world conferences, including the 1913 New York and the 1920 London.[2][4][5]
On 23 July 1909, her husband Frederick presided over the Australian Parliament in Melbourne, where he suffered a seizure in the House, later diagnosed with a cerebral hemorrhage, and died that same day.[6] Holder was told the news via telegram in Adelaide and took the afternoon express train from Adelaide to Melbourne as Holder wanted to ensure her husband’s body was returned to South Australia for burial, where he was granted a state funeral, which took place in Adelaide.[3]
