James Shaw was born in 1846 in Belfast, Ireland. His father was Hugh Shaw, an engineer, and his mother was Margaret. They married in Victoria. In 1864, at the age of 18, James Shaw sailed to Auckland, New Zealand, where he started a most successful contracting business. He also won a service medal for fighting in the Maori Wars. He travelled to South Australia from New Zealand in 1871 and then left South Australia for Victoria in 1875 for a short period of time. He then returned to Adelaide and from there travelled to Coolgardie, Western Australi,a on 22 March 1894.
James Shaw – Image SLWA
His occupation in South Australia was listed as a ‘Builder & Contractor’, and he was the builder of the South Australian Houses of Parliament and many other handsome buildings in Adelaide. He was also a councillor of the City of Adelaide for 13 years, then an Alderman and in 1889, he became Mayor of Adelaide.
James Shaw was a quiet, unostentatious person who was highly respected in Coolgardie. Mining Warden John Michael Finnerty and James Shaw were close friends. He was a Freemason of the 18th degree of the Rose Croix Lodge. His sporting interests found him president of the first Coolgardie cricket and football club, and a patron of the cycling club. He was also vice-president of the Chamber of Mines from its earliest constitution and a member of the Stock Exchange.
He was one of the first owners of the Londonderry Gold Mine, which floated for £700,000. His share was registered on 4 Aug 1894, he had 40 shares valued at £190 per share. After Lord Fingall visited the Londonderry Gold Mine, which was known as The Golden Hole, Shaw organised the shaft to be surrounded by a 6ft corrugated iron fence and also for an iron and timber house to be built at the mine. James Shaw was elected as the first Mayor of Coolgardie in August 1894.
On 8 Nov 1894, as Mayor, he laid the foundation stone for the first two-storey building in Coolgardie, which was to include shops & offices and to cost £7000. On 12 Nov 1894, as Mayor, he opened the Coolgardie State School, which was a large tent with Mr Crabbe as schoolmaster.
Opening Ceremony of the First State school in Coolgardie, 1894 – Image SLWA
Sadly, his son Hugh Hamilton Shaw, who was born in Kyneton, Victoria 1875, died on 23 December 1894 in Coolgardie, aged 18 years, from Typhoid Fever. He is buried in the Coolgardie Cemetery Wesleyan Section Grave A 53. The following photograph shows James Shaw (on the right with a beard) at the graveside of his son. It was said he never fully recovered from this loss. As he had been suffering ill health since his son’s death, James Shaw tendered his resignation as Mayor of Coolgardie, but the Coolgardie Council would not accept his resignation, instead preferring to grant him leave of absence for a period of time.
Hugh Shaw, Coolgardie Cemetery – Image SLWA
In April 1895, James Shaw, as Mayor of Coolgardie, was present at the opening by Mrs Finnerty, Warden Finnerty’s wife, of the Great Boulder Battery. In May 1895, Mayor Shaw called a public meeting in Coolgardie to consider what action should be taken to hasten the construction of the railway. Resolutions were passed at the crowded meeting that the WA Government be urged to speedily complete the railway to Coolgardie, which would reduce the cost of freighting goods from Fremantle to the Goldfields.
Hugh Shaw’s grave 2015 – Image M Sharp
In November 1895, the Mayor was injured while fighting a fire, but not too seriously. James Shaw was to retire as Mayor in 1895 and gave a banquet on 15 November for all Councillors and leading citizens of Coolgardie. On 21 Jul 1897, James Shaw returned to Coolgardie after many months’ absence. He was then to return to South Australia and then traveled to England by sea where he died on the 16th Sept 1910 at the age of 64yrs.
Moya Sharp
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Interesting read.Attended Kambalda Senior High School in the 70’s,,Didn’t learn about James Shaw,,Thank you..
Thanks for your comments and glad you enjoyed the story, sad one though!!