Due to illness, he immigrated to Australia in 1836 and married Mary, daughter of Hannibal Hawkins, Macarthur, at Parramatta 1841.

Their son, James, born on June 27, 1845, at “Manar” Braidwood.

James attended Kings School Sydney, he also received professional training and admitted as a practicing  solicitor, June 17, 1869.

It’s believed, James arrived in Young sometime in 1869.

Immediately he set up as a solicitor and entered a partnership with Edward Scarvell. Over the years he was involved with various partnerships until his partnership evolved into Gordon, Garling and Giugni. This firm under various name changes and ownerships still operates today.

James Gordon brought a premise on Lynch Street in 1881, with the possibility that he had traded there. Then Young Municipal Council and Burrangong Shire Council amalgamated 1980, he moved to Lovell Street. The building is now known as James Gordon Chambers.

James Gordon played a prominent roll in the community. A member of the Legislative Assembly with J.A. McKinnon representing the Young Electorate during the Free Trade Governments of Henry Parkes and George Reid. He was replaced by J.G. Gough in 1889.

James was  involved with St. John’s Church of England being a Senior Warden and Trustee of the cemetery. He served on the committee of the Burrangong Hospital. In 1886 he built a substantial house in William Street which he named “Manar Cottage”  it became St. John’s Nursing Home.

James Gordon married  Eleanor Grant  of “Merriganowry”, 1872 at Grenfell and had 7 children. He passed away 22nd November 1914, aged 69. Buried in the Church of England portion of the Young cemetery. Eleanor passed 4th September 1933, aged 83, and is buried with her family at Young.