J.W. Fletcher was employed in office work in shipping and export in Sydney and the Philippines 1900-1908. Later he had interests in meat works at Torrens Creek, Hughenden and Gladstone. During 1920-23 he was a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Port Curtis. In 1924 he purchased Bonus Downs, Mitchell. He later acquired interests in a number of other stations. He was involved with the Queensland Liberal Party organization, and was a member of the Northern Territory Lands inquiry 1937 and 1945 Royal Commission into Queensland meatworks. He unsuccessfully stood for the federal seat of Brisbane in 1940 and 1943.