Portrait of R.B. James from Canowie from the S.A. Northern Pioneers' composite, 1850-1859 (shown in position on B 6912/3).

Richard Boucher James (1822-1908) was born in Jamaica and arrived in South Australia in 1839 on the Dumfries, along with two brothers, William Rhodes James and John Vidal James. He married in 1848 at Willunga to Mary Le Brun (nee Helmore). Following his purchase, with partners, of Canowie Station in 1856 they lived there until 1863, when the family returned to England. There they purchased a Georgian mansion, Hallsannery, near Bideford Devon, from where R.B. James continued his interest and management of the Canowie Pastoral Company until his death in 1908. (Information supplied by Max Slee). 

Canowie station was established by Dr John Harris Browne in the 1840s then sold to Henry Strong Price from whom Richard Boucher James bought it about 1857 in partnership with Abraham Scott and J F Hayward. At this time it was stocked with over 28,000 sheep. When this partnership was dissolved in 1869 it carried 63,000 sheep. The station was subsequently owned by Fred Hayward in partnership with R B James and William Sanders. In 1894 the Canowie Pastoral Company was formed and by the early 20th century most of the land had been sold with the last area sold in 1925. 

Cockburn, R Pastoral pioneers of South Australia Adelaide: Publishers Limited, 1925-1927 vol. 2 pp. 66-7 Abraham Scott : vol 2 pp. 158-9 William Sanders

Mincham, Hans The story of the Flinders Ranges Adelaide: Rigby, 1967

Sanders, W. B. William Sanders and some "Canowie" history Adelaide: Pioneers' Association of S.A., 1944

The Canowie Stud, Hallett, South Australia : plain-bodied merino sheep, a souvenir [Melbourne: Pastoral Review, 1914]

Sweet, Samuel White Canowie Station 1872 B 10662

Sweet, Samuel White Canowie Station - Manager's house and grounds B 10661

Views of South Australia : Canowie 1880 B 62414/2/54