James Davis - Durrumboi Print Page

Cairn erected by Maryborough Historical Society in 1961 commemorates the finding of James Davis by Andrew Petrie in 1842 after living with aborigines in the district for 14 years.

James Davis was convicted and transported to Sydney and then sent on to the settlement of Moreton Bay in 1828. Davis absconded in company with another convict, and together they reached Wide Bay. A certain resemblance to a deceased warrior named "Durramboi" led the blacks to believe that Davis was the scraped body of the departed one reanimated, and Davis was adopted by Durramboi's parents, and called by his name.  Davis passed from tribe to tribe, and was recognized as the ghost of numberless dead blacks; but he always succeeded in explaining that it was so long since he died that he had forgotten his name and habitation. His frequent journeys enabled him to gain valuable information respecting the then unexplored territory north of Moreton Bay. Davis was found in 1842 by Mr. Andrew Petrie, the father of Mr. John Petrie, while on an exploring expedition up to Wide Bay and the Mary River. He had forgotten his mother tongue, and for some time could use only a few incoherent words, garnished with the dialect of his tribe, which he spoke very fluently.

Upon returning to Brisbane and receiving a pardon from the Government, Davis first entered the service of Land Commissioner Simpson at Woogaroo, and shortly afterwards joined Mr. Eales's manager, Mr. Joliffe, to take up land in the Wide Bay district. He was next engaged with a survey party, opening the road to Gympie, a task which took a considerable time to accomplish. Whilst residing in Brisbane, he was also engaged as aboriginal interpreter in the Supreme Court, travelling about the colony wherever a native unable to speak English was placed on his trial. Davis died in Brisbane in 1889.

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