James Liege Hulett was born in 1838 in Sheffield, England, the son of a schoolmaster, James Hulett ana his wife, Mary (née Flashman). He completed his eduation in Kent, but was unable to find work, as the country was in recession after the end of the Crimean War (1853-56). A friend of Hulett's father, who was a chemist in Port Natal, was looking for an assistant and agreed to appoint the young man. Hulett arrived in Natal aboard the Lady Shelbourne in 1857 to commence his duties.
In 1860, having settled down in the colony and looking to better himself, he leased a 243ha