In 1869 James Bambrick built the Railway Hotel, in Sydney Street (now High Street), close to the intended rail terminal in Huon Street. When the rail finally arrived in 1873, the station was built near the corner of High and Elgin Street. He operated the hotel until 1902.

In 1876 when Wodonga split from Yackandandah Shire, James Bambrick was one of 10 nominees for the newly formed council.  Bambrick attained 115 votes, second to John Woodland with 146, and he continued as a member of the council without a break until 1890, including three terms as president.

The first meeting of the newly formed council was held on May 11,1876 at the Prince of Wales Hall. James Bambrick had built the hall next door to the hotel, and it was the venue for all council meetings.

At various times in Wodonga, James Bambrick also undertook the roles of sergeant of police, clerk of courts, electoral registrar, secretary of the racing club and registrar of births and deaths at Wodonga.

Due to ill health James Bambrick was forced to sell the hotel in 1902 for a reported sum of £3000. 

Part of the obituary published on October 15, 1909 in the Wodonga and Towong Sentinel: “Up to about 10 years ago, probably no name was more closely associated with Wodonga than that of James Bambrick, whose hotel was for a generation the principal rendezvous on this side of the border. The coaches to and from the Upper Murray, Tallangatta, Mitta Mitta, and Yackandandah started from and returned to “Bambrick’s”; most of the settlers higher up the river spent a day or two at the same hostelry on the way to Melbourne, both before and after the advent of “the iron horse” to Wodonga; and for a considerable time the business of the municipality was transacted in the hall immediately adjoining the same hotel.” 

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