James Marchbanks (27 October 1862 – 6 July 1947) was a New Zealand civil engineer.

He was born in Dunedin, educated at the University of Otago, and joined the Public Works Department in 1878 as surveyor and civil engineer.

His son Donald Marchbanks (1901–1987) succeeded him as WHB Chief Engineer.

[1][2][3] He was a foundation member of the New Zealand Institution of Civil Engineers and was Honorary Treasurer of the New Zealand Institution of Engineers for many years.

He died in 1947 in the Hutt Hospital, and is buried in St John's Anglican Church cemetery, Trentham.