I refer to
Ernests immigration record from 1908, where he records his nearest relative or friend as H. L. GILL.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9B2-GS6X-V?cc=3477656&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3ACDCV-TPPZHenry Lawrence GILL was a carpenter and an early pioneer in Innisfail.
Born in Jamaica, & grew up in England
Arrived in north Qld in early 1880s
He built Tom See Poys first store about 1884
Moved to Cooktown by late 1880s and married (R.C.) there in 1889 to Irish woman Kate MAHON.
Moved back to Innisfail by 1890s when he built the pilots cottage.
By 1895 Henry Gill started working as a shipping agent for Howard Smith and Sons (a QLD shipping and customs agent).
Henry took a leading part in the banana trade which made Innisfail famous in the 1890s.
Part owner in the steamer Arakoon, engaged in the banana trade between Geraldton (Innisfail) and Townsville.
Henry took an interest in the sugar industry, and owned a sugar cane farm on Liverpool Creek, 30km south of Innisfail.
By 1906 Mr H L Gill, was manager of Howard Smith and Sons Steamship Co, Innisfail
Henry was instrumental in inducing Howard Smith Co. to obtain a large interest in Mourilyan Syndicate Ltd when it purchased the Mourilyan Sugar Estate, in 1907.
By 1910 Mr. H. L. Gill, was general manager of the Mourilyan syndicate.
There is documented evidence that he had numerous good relations with the Chinese community in Innisfail.
Newspaper death notice for Henry Gillhttps://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/16905799?searchTerm=%22mr%20H%20L%20Gill%22Well-researched detail about Henry Gill herehttps://jeanffrench.wordpress.com/2022/05/01/henry-l-gill-north-queensland-pioneer/amp/It might be worth contacting the author to see if there is any documentation of Ernest in her research.Also note my previous recommendation to contact the
Innisfail and District Historical SocietyAlso of interest to you: Hurricane Lamps and Blue Umbrellas by Dorothy Jones, 1973
https://books.google.com.au/books/about/Hurricane_Lamps_and_Blue_Umbrellas.html?id=wnQcAAAAMAAJ&redir_esc=y