William James was a stonemason by trade. He settled at Dunmore where he built his family home Bravella, meaning hills and vales in Cornish. William purchased breeding stock from local farmer Andrew McGill and established the famous James dairy herd. James Road at Dunmore is named for the family.

William was Mayor of Shellharbour Municipality 1870 to 1871, and Alderman from the first Shellharbour Municipal Council in 1859 to his death in 1888. He assisted building the Presbyterian, Methodist and Anglican Churches in Shellharbour. 

William’s son Thomas James, served as Mayor of Shellharbour 1925 to 1928, and Alderman 1920-1931. He took an active part in agricultural interests and the establishment of the Illawarra Dairy Cattle Association, where he served as secretary for many years. Thomas married Rachel Arnold in 1890 and they built their home Rosemont on the bends of the old Princes Highway at Dunmore.

Famous stained glass window maker John Radecki dedicated a beautiful window at St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Wollongong, to William and Elizabeth James of Dunmore. In the late 1880’s, John and his father, penniless migrants from Poland, were walking back from the Kiama quarry where they had gone to apply for work. William James saw the two men on their walk back to Wollongong and showed them kindness by giving them a meal, shelter, and a small amount of money to help them out.

The stained glass window The Good Samaritans at St Andrew’s was designed and made by John Radecki in honour of the James family who had helped them many years before.