Obituaries Australia

  • Tip: searches only the name field
  • Tip: use double quotes to search for a phrase
  • Tip: lists of awards, schools, organisations etc

Browse Lists:

Cultural Advice

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website contains names, images, and voices of deceased persons.

In addition, some articles contain terms or views that were acceptable within mainstream Australian culture in the period in which they were written, but may no longer be considered appropriate.

These articles do not necessarily reflect the views of The Australian National University.

James Cavanough (1835–1900)

We clip the following from the St. George "Standard," printed at St. George, Queensland; Mr. James Cavanough mentioned, is a native of the Hawkesbury and a brother of Mrs. George Greentree, of Freeman's Beach. The deceased in days of yore, tried his hand at farming in this district, but through continued losses caused by floods, decided to emigrate to Queensland, where his career has been most successful:—

Mr. James Cavanough, the well-known St. George storekeeper, died at his residence at 3 o'clock on Monday afternoon, after an illness of eight weeks. Mr. Cavanough suffered at first from the prevailing fever, from which he recovered, but subsequently developed phlebitis, a dangerous affection for a man of his years. Failure of the heart supervened, and after a period of semi-consciousness death overtook him. Mr. Cavanough was a native of the Hawkesbury, his father and mother were also natives, and his grandfather was a seafaring man and had come out with Captain Cook. Mr. and Mrs. Cavanough came to this district in 1862. In 1865 Mr. Cavanough established the business now in his name, having opened an hotel and store where the Australian hotel and store now stands. His business prospered, and in 1875 he launched into station property by purchasing West Haran and taking up Goondoola station, which is part of his estate. In 1882 Mr. Cavanough further added to his pastoral property Rookwood, which he purchased from Mr. John Moore, together with 800 head of cattle. In 1888 he purchased Waterloo, and in 1890 Bona Vista and Perwell. The three places joined Rookwood. Mr. Cavanough was a great believer in ringbarking, and spent large sums in that improvement with beneficial results. His station properties are not by any means fully stocked, and now depasture about 5000 head of cattle, besides horses. Mr. Cavanough, like most of the youths of his day, enjoyed very few educational advantages, but he was endowed with great natural abilities, and those, coupled with a keen business instinct and indomitable perseverance, enabled him to succeed in life and build up a very considerable fortune. He was a man of retiring habits, and in his last years, outside of his business, appeared to derive most of his enjoyment from the society of his grand-children, of whom he leaves nineteen. Mrs. Cavanough survives him, also one son and two daughters. In public matters Mr. Cavanough never took any prominent part, but he was always ready to give his support when it was wanted, whether for the good of the town or the individual, or the larger interests of the colony. Comparatively speaking he was not an old man when he died, being only 64 years on the 30th of last October, and six months ago he looked as if he was good for another twenty years, but life is uncertain and he is now no more. The deceased was buried on Tuesday evening, a very large concourse of people attending the funeral. Mr. C. L. Morgan read the service at the grave.

Original publication

Additional Resources

Citation details

'Cavanough, James (1835–1900)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/cavanough-james-24165/text32959, accessed 19 March 2024.

© Copyright Obituaries Australia, 2010-2024