James Collins Hawker (1821-1901) was an English-born explorer, surveyor, diarist and pastoralist[1] of South Australia, aide-de-camp to Governor George Gawler,[2] and subsequently Comptroller of H.M. Customs at Port Adelaide.

Hawker sailed to South Australia in 1838 with George Gawler, who was an old friend of his father, and who was to succeed Captain Hindmarsh, R.N., the first viceregal representative in the colony.

[4] In December 1838, Hawker joined the party which conducted a survey on the Sturt River, led by J. W. McLaren who became Deputy Surveyor-General of South Australia.

Hawker executed surveys in other parts of the colony, before resigning and returning to Government House to assist in the Private Secretary's office.

[3][6] Hawker subsequently went out as commissary under command of Police Commissioner O'Halloran, their force succeeding in protecting other settlers who had been attacked and in retrieving their animals.

On 22 December 1841 he discovered a permanent water supply in the Mid-North of South Australia at Bungaree, which was improved by sinking a well, and transferred his stock there.

[8] Hawker compiled diaries over much of his life, originally publishing them as articles that appeared in the South Australian Register and the Adelaide Observer.

[3] In August 1872, Hawker retired from the customs branch, and went into private commercial life, establishing the business of land and station agency and surveyor.