He finished his secondary education in 1856, and graduated with the candidate.theol.
Degree in 1861. He started his professional life as a teacher in Bergen, Hammerfest and Ringerike. In 1867 he was hired as a sexton in Bergen, and served as acting school director between 1868 to 1871. In 1877 he founded the magazine Ny Luthersk Kirketidende together with Jakob Sverdrup.
Vollan sat as co-editor from 1877 to 1881.
In 1880 he was hired in the newspaper Vestlandsposten, for which he became editor-in-chief in 1891. He served as a deputy representative to the Norwegian Parliament during the term 1904–1906.
He represented the Moderate Liberal Party, for whom he was among the leading figures.
He was a member of Bergen city council from 1883 to 1890 and 1897 to 1901.