Walter James, from the Western Australian Government Photographer Collection The Hon. Sir Walter Hartwell James, KCMG, KC (29 March 1863–3 January 1943 was premier of Western Australia from 1 July 1902 until 10 August 1904.
Walter James was born on 29 March 1863 in Perth, in what was then the British colony of Western Australia. He was educated at Perth Boys School and later at High School (now Hale School). In his youth he worked as a jackaroo in the Pilbara, but after being shipwrecked in 1883 on his way to the Pilbara, he turned to the legal profession. He was admitted to the Western Australian bar in 1888 and shortly afterwards went into partnership with George Leake. On 21 June 1892, he married Eleanora Marie Gwenifryd Hearder.
From 1891 to 1897, James represented Central Ward on Perth City Council; and in 1894 was elected to the Legislative Assembly seat of East Perth. In the Legislative Assembly, James was a consistent opponent of John Forrest's government.
Like Leake, James was strongly in favour of federation, and campaigned heavily for Western Australia to become an original member of the Federation. He was a member of the Western Australian delegation to the Federal Conventions of 1897 and 1898. He was also a strong advocate of the women's suffrage movement.
On 28 June 1901, James was appointed minister without portfolio in the first Leake government. After Leake died in late June 1902, James was appointed premier and attorney-general on 1 July. As premier, James fought for the state's interests against an aggressive Commonwealth executive. He also led a reforming government; its achievements include legalization of the union movement, the first workers' compensation, a stronger Arbitration Act, and the opening of the current Parliament House. James also tried but failed to reform the franchise; he achieved only the abolition of plural voting, and an increase in Goldfields representation. These changes appear to have been his undoing, as it is likely that they were key factors in Labor's strong support in the election of 28 June 1904, after which James was defeated when Parliament next met on 10 August 1904.
On 22 September 1904, James resigned from parliament to take up an appointment as Agent-General for Western Australia in London. He was appointed Knight Bachelor on 28 June 1907. After returning to Perth from London, he contested the Legislative Assembly seat of Beverley at a by-election in 1910, but was unsuccessful.
In 1909, James was appointed to a Royal Commission to enquire into the establishment of a university in Perth. When the University of Western Australia was established, he became a founding member. He continued to serve the university for many years, and was elected pro-Chancellor on 19 August 1929 and Chancellor on 17 March 1930. He retired as Chancellor in 1936.
In 1931, James was elevated to KCMG. In 1932, he declined an offer from Premier James Mitchell to become Lieutenant-Governor of Western Australia. In 1936, he accepted an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. He died on 3 January 1943.
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