About William James O'Leary
Lived 1865 – 1947 (aged 81–82). William James O'Leary was a New Zealand explorer.
William James O'Leary (born 28 October 1865 at Tuapeka ).
He was a bushman, and spent many years looking for gold in the Arawata River area, and never struck it rich, dying in 1947. Together with his mare Dolly, he wandered around the Westland for decades looking for gold.
In 1953 poet Denis Glover wrote Arawata Bill immortalizing him as the solitary New Zealand prospector.
O'Leary's Paddock is a street in Queenstown named after him.
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Important facts
People in William James O'Leary's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
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Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped William James O'Leary's
Frequently asked questions
Who was William James O'Leary?
New Zealand prospector
When was William James O'Leary born?
William James O'Leary was born on 28 October 1865.
When did William James O'Leary die?
William James O'Leary died in 1947.
What was William James O'Leary's occupation?
William James O'Leary was an explorer.
What nationality was William James O'Leary?
William James O'Leary was New Zealand.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: William James O'Leary
· DBpedia: William James O'Leary
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William James O'Leary. https://biography.guide/william-james-o-leary/
MLA: "William James O'Leary." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-james-o-leary/.
Chicago: "William James O'Leary." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-james-o-leary/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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