Death of Mr James Gormley, a Pioneer of the Riverina

23 May 1922 The Brisbane Courier (Qld.)

Though the late Mr James Gormley, M.L.C, who died at Wagga (NSW) last Friday, had no interests in Queensland, he was well known to many pastoralists and racing men in this State Mr Gormley, who was 87 years of age, was born in Ireland, but came to Australia with his patents, who settled at Gundagai in the year 1840.

Of the Gormley family of seven only James and an elder brother escaped in the great Gundagai flood of 1852.

After that, James Gormley went to the Ballarat diggings. but subsequently returned to Wagga, and was one of the earliest coach drivers in that district.

He was a great sports-man, and in 1868 he rode the famous ten mile race at Wagga on Camel, a horse that won 22 big races for him.

Of recent years he filled practically every position in the Murrumbidgee Turf Club.

At the time of his death Mr Gormley - known generally as "Jimmy" Gormley - was the oldest sitting member in the New South Wales Parliament, having represented the Murrumbidgee from 1885 to 1904, when he was appointed to the Legislative Council.