James Backhouse Walker

James Backhouse Walker, (14 October 1841 – 4 November 1899) was an Australian solicitor and historian.

Life James Backhouse Walker was born at Hobart on 14 October 1841, the eldest son of the Quaker missionary George Washington Walker. His mother, Sarah Walker , was the daughter of an English emigrant named Robert Mather. Walker was educated at the High School, Hobart, and the Quaker Bootham School, York.

He first entered the workforce as a junior clerk, working first for Thomas Chapman's importing and exporting firm, and then for his father’s Hobart Savings Bank. He began training as a lawyer in 1872, and was admitted as barrister, solicitor and proctor of the Supreme Court of Tasmania in 1876. The trip began on 17 February 1887 (Hobart to New Norfolk by train, then to Ouse by coach), and concluded 5 March 1887 (Formby (Devonport) by coach to Launceston, then by train to Hobart). D. M. Stoddard transcribed Walker's manuscript diary and edited the book. The publication was partly funded through donations from academic societies and government grants. Locations with paintings include: Lake Pedder, Frenchman's Cap, Mount King William, Lake St Clair, Mount Rufus, Mount Gell, King William Range, Mount Ida, Mount Heemskirk, and Mount Olympus. It also contains a foldout map of the West Coast at the time of the group's travel. The included Lexicon of relevant place names identifies characters involved in the exploration, track cutting, and place naming in the West Coast of Tasmania.