Australia had several prominent exponents of sculling when it was a popular spectator sport, and James Stanbury was one who rose to the status of world champion. 

Coming to the Shoalhaven at the age of five, Stanbury learned the sport on the waters of the Shoalhaven River, where he competed in local regattas. 

He rose to international prominence in 1890 when, aged 24, he beat Canadian William O’Connor on the Parramatta River’s championship course, the match race being for 500 pounds a side – a huge amount in those days. 

In April 1891 he won the world title against fellow Australian John McLean over the same course, and defended it the following year against the New Zealander, Thomas Sullivan. 

Although he competed in the UNited State in 1893 it was almost four years before he again defended the title, and that was on the Thames between Putney and Mortlake. Stanbury beat off the challenge of Englishman C.R Harding. 

However, in the September he lost his title on the Thames, well-beaten by Canadian Jacob Gaudaur. 

With strong support from the Nowra district and backing from the business community, Stanbury made a comeback to the sport, and regained his world title from champion Towns in 1905. 

It was estimated that 80,000 people had watched the race along its route, and a few days later State Premier Carruthers and several of his ministers feted him on a Sydney Harbour cruise. 

When he relinquished the crown in 1906, Stanbury was 38 years of age and suffering rheumatism, while the golden age of sculling was ending. 

Stanbury retired and settled into domestic life of rearing a growing family of six girls and one son. In March 1926 he was invited, along with four other great scullers, by the Shoalhaven Rowing Club to attend a regatta on the Shoalhaven River to celebrate ‘Back to Shoalhaven Week’ on October 23, 1926. The old warriors rowed leisurely over the course and came up to the finishing line abreast.

Stanbury died at 77 and is buried in the Field of Mars Cemetery, North Ryde.