James Stirling
Stirling, James, (1858-1936)
Career Summary
James was born on December 26, 1858, in Richmond, Melbourne, the son of Bank Manager James Stirling and his wife Louise Augusta Stirling (nee Mckenzie).
It is thought that the family lived in Melbourne until his father took up the posting of Manager of the Bank of New South Wales at Sandhurst (now Bendigo) in mid-1867. The family remained there until 1875 when they moved to Albert Park, Melbourne.
Around 1875, James joined the Victorian Railways, commencing a lifelong career with rail.
On July 5, 1881, James married Agnes Mary Conolan Stuart at St Silas Church in Albert Park. They had two daughters, Agnes Louisa Conolan Stirling born 1885 and Helen Edith Stirling born 1887.
In 1891, James commenced as Manager of the Tarrawingee Flux and Tramway Company. The company operated a limestone quarry and a rail line near Broken Hill in NSW. The limestone was used as a flux in the extraction of metals from ore.
Emu Bay Rail line construction
In October 1897, he moved to Burnie, Tasmania, to construct the 48 mile extension of the Emu Bay rail line from Guildford to Zeehan. He was Engineer in Charge of the project with Richard Anketell as Chief Surveyor. The two worked as a very effective team resolving alignment and construction challenges in very difficult terrain. By early 1898, there were 500 men working on the construction project. This increased to 1,000 by August 1898.
The first train undertook the journey from Burnie to Zeehan on December 21, 1900. On completion of the rail line, James was made Manager of the Emu Bay Rail Company. In 1900, James was appointed a Justice of the Peace.
Burnie Marine Board
James was first elected to the Burnie Marine Board as a Warden in 1903. James was involved with the Board for over 20 years, including being elected as Master Warden twice before his retirement in 1924. He was a prime mover in the construction of a major breakwater that increased the range of vessels that could use the Port of Burnie.
In 1908, James introduced petrol driven gang rail motors for fettlers, the first use of this technology in Australia. He also introduced the first Garratt locomotives for use on a private railway in Australia.
In July 1934, James retired from the Emu Bay Rail Company.
James died on September 11, 1936, at Queenstown, aged 77 years. He was survived by his wife Agnes and their daughters Agnes and Helen.
References:
Kerry Pink, The Tasmanian West Coast Story, West Coast Pioneers Memorial Museum, 1982
Judith Anketell, Walker in the Wilderness, Hesperian Press, Victoria Park, 1998
Melbourne Argus, 28.12.1858, p. 4.
Bendigo Advertiser, 4.6.1867, p. 2.
The Australasian, 12.7.1884, p. 3.
Mercury, 13.10.1897, p. 3.
Daily Telegraph, 16.1.1900, p. 3.
Mercury, 21.12.1903, p. 8.
Daily Telegraph, 3.5.1924, p. 3.
Burnie Advocate, 12.9.1936, p. 2.
Compiled by Chris Fitzhardinge, November 15, 2024. Final edit by Engineering Heritage Tasmania committee.
