Identifiernot specifiedPhotographernot specifiedKeywordsP. A. JamesHornsby Shire CouncilCouncillorsDescriptionPaul Allen James was a Hornsby Shire Councillor, 1914-1934 and the Shire President 12 times between 1916 and 1931. He was the fifth President of Hornsby Shire Council. It was largely due to his influence, together with that of Jacob Garrard President of the Water Board from 1907 to 1912, that the provision of water to Hornsby Shire kept pace with that of more easily accessible regions of the Sydney area. For many years he was a well known timber merchant in Hornsby and Epping and his first premises were in Jersey Street Hornsby. Timber for the mill for many years came from his property at Kurrajong Heights but as the building industry boomed, he had been unable to meet the demand from this source. The timber yards were the largest on the northern side of the Parramatta River in 1925. He went on to expand his business to cover a variety of building needs: lime, lead, galvanised iron, gas and water fittings and fencing material. The second premises he purchased were in Beecroft Road, Epping and the company had at one time belonged to Mr J Wooster. At the peak of his career James owned a fleet of motor trucks and employed 150 people. He was a foundation President of the movement to establish the Hornsby and District Hospital and a ward in the hospital was named after him. It was fitting that the James Park to the north of the hospital is so named.
He held important executive positions in several other companies; Vice President of the Metropolitan Water and Sewage Board, and was regarded as a keen businessman and a good organiser. Although he came to Australia from his birthplace of New Zealand as a young man he retained fond memories of his homeland and his home in Peats Ferry Road Hornsby was called Tui-Pah.