James Cowie (Australian settler)

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James Cowie (9 January 1809 – 14 November 1892) was an early settler in Victoria, Australia. Born in Falkirk, Scotland, he was the son of a brewer and trained as a saddler and harness maker in London before moving to Australia in 1840. After a spell in Van Diemen’s Land, he settled in Geelong (then known as Corio) and built several successful businesses, including shops and a mining and shipping agency, gaining his fortune during the Victorian gold rush.

When Geelong formed a municipality in 1849, Cowie helped by providing securities for the new council and topped the poll in the first elections. He was elected mayor in November 1852 and served for a year. After Victoria separated from New South Wales in 1851, he joined the Victorian Legislative Council to represent Geelong, but resigned after two years to visit Britain. He returned home on the Schomberg, which was wrecked on its maiden voyage off Port Campbell; he was rescued. From October 1856 he served on the new Legislative Council representing South Western Province until September 1858, then was elected to the Legislative Assembly for Geelong East. Cowie is pictured in a 1872 montage of early Victorian explorers and colonists, and the Cowie Ward on Geelong Council is named in his honour.