| Honorific-Prefix: | The Hon |
| James Cowlishaw | |
| Office1: | Member of the Queensland Legislative Council |
| Term Start1: | 18 April 1878 |
| Term End1: | 23 March 1922 |
| Birth Date: | 1834 12, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Sydney, Australia |
| Death Place: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Restingplace: | Toowong Cemetery |
| Birthname: | James Cowlishaw |
| Nationality: | Australian |
| Spouse: | Charlotte Owen (m.1862 d.1914) |
| Occupation: | Architect, auditor, company director, bimetallist |
James Cowlishaw (19 December 1834 – 25 July 1929) was an architect, businessman and politician in Queensland (initially a colony, then a state of Australia from 1901).
Cowlishaw was born in Sydney, where he was educated at St. James's Grammar School, and went to Queensland in 1861 to practise as an architect.
On 18 April 1878 he was appointed to a seat in the Queensland Legislative Council and held it until the Council was abolished in March 1922.[1]
Cowlishaw was part proprietor and managing director for some years of the Brisbane Evening Telegraph, but sold his interest in the newspaper in 1885.
Cowlishaw founded the Brisbane Gas Company in 1864, was auditor from 1869 to 1873 and then became a director. He then succeeded Lewis Bernays as chairman in March 1879, and held that position until 1920.
Cowlishaw died in Bowen Hills, Brisbane, Queensland and was buried in Toowong Cemetery.[2]
His architectural works include: