James Bourke

James and Alice Bourke came from Ireland to Brisbane and arrived in Wellington about 1868. For about 45 years they resided at Wellington Road, Kilbirnie, where Mr Bourke bought land from James Coutts Crawford. He ran a wool-scouring business for many years, using water from the Waipapa stream which formed a pond known as Bourke's Pond. Mr Bourke took a keen interest in the development of Wellington and was a member of the first Melrose Borough Council. Bourke Street in Kilbirnie is named after him.

James and Alice had four sons and six daughters. Their sons were well-known wool buyers in Wellington. Mrs Bourke died in 1912 and James on 7 May 1915. The Bourkes were one of the first catholic families in the eastern suburbs. James arranged to be buried next to his catholic priest at the Mount Street Cemetery. The Bourke family also donated a large stained glass window to St Gerard's church in Mt Victoria.

Sources: Evening Post 11 May 1915; St Patrick's Parish Jubilee booklet 1969.

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