[4] He married Mary Ann McCready at St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney on 22 September 1864.

[5] While in Sydney, the couple had three daughters:[6][7] James Hipwood arrived in Brisbane in 1870,[8] where the couple had a further nine children:[7] James Hipwood died in Brisbane on 22 January 1926.

[4][13] He was one of the founders of Queensland Trustees Limited and the South Brisbane Milling Company.

[4] James Hipwood was an alderman of the Brisbane Municipal Council from 1884 to 1897 and mayor in 1886 and 1887.

He served on the following committees:[14] James Hipwood was also a member of the Coorparoo Shire Council from 1888 to 1891 and its president in 1890.