Hugh McKenzie

Hugh McKenzie, (son of Alexander (Jun) McKenzie and Elizabeth Hanks) b. 17-01-1853 in Balgownie NSW , d. 12-06-1908 of Pneumonia in Belmore, Canowindra. He married Flora Ann McRae, 17-03-1886 in Canowindra, Presbyterian. Flora was born 26-02-1863 in Evans Plains and died 09-06-1938 in Morbell, Canowindra.

1894 – was Hugh the McKenzie associated with the Lady Burdett-Coutts Claim?

1894 – At Boney’s Rocks, near Canowindra, Messrs. Mylecharane and McKenzie, from their claim known as London Reef, obtained from the last two crushings the handsome returns of 2ijOz, and 6^-oz. respectively, of retorted gold per ton. The London Reef (now named the Lady Burdett-Coutts by the expert and manager, Mr; A. Argles,

for a syndicate who has’ purchased it for £3000) is down 250ft., with stone of

good quality in view. 

In 1894 that “Gold Fever got going:” RICH GOLD DISCOVERY AT CANOWINDRA. – CANOWINDRA, MONDAY. Great excitement has been caused here by the wonderful discovery of a rich shoot of gold at theLondon Reef, Coney’s Rock, at the 281ft. level. It is expected to yield as high as 50 oz. per ton. The reef is of a permanent character. Specimens of quartz shown at Canowindra are literally impregnated with gold.

In 1897, Hugh had a 3 acre Gold Mining Lease cancelled, in the Parish of Collett, County Ashburnam

It appears that around 1899, Hugh was granted a gold mining lease “Canowindra, ‘Hugh McKenzie, 3 acres, GL 6, parish Collett ; 2 men for first 12 months, 3 for remainder of term.” – 1. It appears that after his death in 1908, that Hugh’s widow Flora sought and was granted 4 acres of land at Canowindra in 1910- 2. 

In 1909, it was announced in the Canowindra Court that a Flora McKenzie applied for and was granted 2 acres of Residence Land in the Parish of Collett, County Ashburnam. Was Hugh McKenzie’s widow, though further research needed to confirm this possibility or not?

In 1910 the widowed Flora Ann McKenzie was given a residential lease and had to hold a miner’s right:

The following application for residential lease has been approved:— Flora Ann McKenzie (widow}. Canowindra, portion 179 of 3a 3r 39p, parish of Collett, Canowindra mineral field, from 9 th November, 1910, to 8 th November, 1924, at annual rent of £1. The lessee is to hold a miner’s right during the currency of the lease, and shall keep the land free from briars and noxious weeds. The land is in

Boree (?) Shire. The gold lease under the Mining Act of 1874, of J McMahon and others, Cargo, 8 acres in the parish of Cargo, has been cancelled, and the land is

now available, (unless held under some other title, for occupation in terms of

the Mining Act of 1906.

Eldest daughter Isobel acted as Executrix for her mother Flora Ann McRae – Sydney Morning Herald October 4 1938

“IN THE  SUPREME COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES-Probate Jurisdiction-In the estate of of FLORA ANN McKENZIE Into of Canowindra in the State of New South Wales Widow deceased
intestate-Application will be made liter fourteen days from the publication hereof tint 1 otters
of Administration of the estate of the abovenamed deceased may be granted to ISOBEL ELITHAR FLORA MCKENZIE a daughter of the deceased. All creditors and other persons with any claims against the said Estate are hereby required to send in particulars thereof within the said period of fourteen days to the Office of the undermentioned at which address all notices may be served And Notice Is hereby also given that application will also be made that the usual Administration Bond may be dispensed with Messrs EM FINN & CO Proctors for the Administratix Gaskill Street Canowindra By their agents Messrs F A FINN
& DRESSER Solicitors 66 King Street Sydney”

Family Tree of Hugh McKenzie & Flora Ann McRae

1. Isabel Elithar Flora McKenzie, b. 1886 in Molong, d. 22-06-1969 in Canowindra – never married. Isobel was the Executrix for the wills of her mother Flora Ann McKenzie nee McRae in 1938, and in 1954 for her sister Ida Maude McKenzie. Isabel had been an Assistant Teacher and Teacher at Canowindra Public School for 48 years from 1902 till 31.12.1950 – 1906,  1907, 1910,  1914, 1922, when she was also Secretary & Treasurer of the local Teachers Association. She passed Teaching examinations in 1902 – History C. Geography B. Arithmetic C, English C, Physiology B. She attended a Teachers Federation meeting with her sister Elizabeth McKenzie in 1921.

She was also at Wombat Public School c.1908, and possibly at Cowra 1928. There is a question if the image below is of a young Isabel at Canowindra School in 1900.

2. Elizabeth Mary McKenzie, b. 1888 in Molong, d. 18-03-1960 in Canowindra. Never married. Like her older sister Isabel Elithar Flora McKenzie, Elizabeth was a school teacher in the Canowindra area – in 1918 Elizabeth was transferred from Kickabel to Lockwood near Canowindra. Elizabeth attended a Teachers Federation meeting with her sister Ida McKenzie in Canowindra 1921. In 1934 Elizabeth was transferred from Canowindra to Warwick, near Cowra.

3. Eva Annie McKenzie, b. 1890 in Molong, d. 3-04-1968 in Canowindra. She married John James Daly, Farmer (1883 – ) in 1925 in Canowindra. He had served in the Army in the 56th Battalion in WW1 during 1916 – 1918 at Second Bullecourt,  and was wounded in June 1917, sent to the AIF’s Hurdcott Convalescent & Training Camp. He served again in WW2, during  1941 – 1943, in the 22nd Garrison Battalion.

a. Julie McKenzie Mona Daly (1927 Canowindra – 2019 Canowindra) married Jack Cassidy Labourer, (1927 Canowindra – 1992 Canowindra)

            i. Son Cassidy

ii. Daughter Cassidy – married

b. Keith John Daly. (1928 – 1987) – served in WW2

b. Max Oswald Daly, (b. 5-05-1930, d. 17-10-1994.)

4. Laura Eliza Julia McKenzie, b. 1891 in Canowindra, d. 18-03-1960 in Canowindra. Never married. For many years she worked for Charles Lindsay Thorne  McDonagh – C L T McDonagh as a shop assistant 1913-1943, later as a bookkeeper from 1949 to 1963. Note – C L T McDonagh’s closed in June 1959.

5. Alexander Hugh McKenzie, Postmaster b. 1894 in Canowindra, d. 1972 in Hindmarsh, Adelaide, SA. He married (1)  Vera May Peek, married 1924 in St Aidens Church, Exeter near Moss Vale (NSW BDM 11798/1924) , b. 1897 in Armidale, d. 1967 in Robe, SA; married (2) to Lorna . There was an extensive description of the wedding in the Ariah Park News. Alexander of Canowindra was successful in the Post Office examinations in 1909,  in the Post Office in Cowra in 1912, Wagga Wagga in 1920, Cootamundra in 1921, spent time out west as Post Master in Gulargombone before being transferred back to the Lakemba area. In his later years, he moved to Woodville South Australia – perhaps to be closer to his daughter Heather? Did he marry a Lorna McKenzie by 1963 after Vera’s passing?

i. Canon Alexander George McKenzie ( – 1989 East Doncaster) married Jenifer. He was a Theology Student living at Lakemba in 1954. Appointed as Chaplain to Bendigo Training Prison in 1966.

                a. 3 Children

ii. Heather Vera Emily McKenzie ( 1928 Sydney – 1977 Cheltenham South Australia) married in 1958 to  Raymond Vaughton (1936 – 1982)

a. Child Vaughton

6. Aubrey Stewart McKenzie, Police Sergeant b. 1904 in Canowindra, d. 1966 in Wagga Wagga. He married in 1928 in Glebe to Hilda May McLachlan, b. 1899 in Glen Innes. He was successful in the Qualifying Certificate in 1918, and passed the Public Service examinations in 1919. He was transferred to various locations around NSW – Manly, Wagga Wagga, Albury, Corowa, & Urana. After “retiring” from active policing in 1964, Aubrey took up a role as “Court Crier” in Wagga Wagga. Aubrey and Hilda had four  children including ..

a. Ida May McKenzie Telephonist (1928 – 1982), married in 1959 to Philip Thorp Lane Instrument Mechanic ( – 2013 Gold Coast). Ida and sister Elizabeth “Betty” often performed in their younger days – there were two children

       b. Elizabeth Jessie “Betty” McKenzie (1930 – 2021) married in 1956 to  Ronald John McDonald Technician (1928 – 1997) – Betty and sister Ida often performed in their younger days there were two children

c. Colin John Stewart McKenzie (22/12/1936 – 14/5/2007)

d. Flora Ann McKenzie (1938 – 1940 Albury).

7. Ida Maude McKenzie, b. 1908 in Canowindra, d. 18-10-1953 in Canowindra – never married. Her older sister Isobel was Executrix of her will – Sydney Morning Herald 1.1.1954. Perhaps Ida was the daughter who remained at home and cared for her mother Flora Ann McKenzie nee McRae?

1919 – Was she the Ida McKenzie who did pianoforte examinations?

“IN the Estate of IDA MAUD McKENZIE late of Canowindra in the State ot New South Wales Spinster deceased Intestate – Application will be made after 14 days from the publication hereof that administration of the Estate of the above named deceased may be granted to Isabel Elithar Flora McKenzie a sister of the said deceased and all notices may be served at the under mentioned address. All creditors in the Estate of the said deceased are hereby required to send in particulars of their claims to the undersigned and notice is also hereby given that application will be made to dispense with the usual Administration Bond. E M FINN & CO Proctors for the Applicant. Gaskill Street, Canowindra. By their Agents F. A. FINN ROACHE &. CO. Solicitors, 66 King Street, Sydney.”

Hugh McKenzie Timeline

Hugh McKenzie‘s life across the years from 1853  to 1891  can be seen through a time line of his father Alexander McKenzie Jnr:

• 1853 – Balgownie – birth of son Hugh
• 1853 – son Donald married Nancy McIntyre in Appin
• 1854 – Bulli – Alexander McKenzie Jnr purchases 200- 300 acres of land on the south side of Woonona (note Woonona and Bulli were used interchangeably at this time).
• 1854 – Bulli – birth of son Thomas
• 1855 – 1856 – Alexander McKenzie Jnr is listed on the electoral roll as being a Freehold landowner at Bulli
• 1856 – Bulli – birth & death of unnamed child
• 1857 – Bulli – Alexander McKenzie Jnr is listed as a subscriber and committee member of the Illawarra Agricultural Society
• 1858 – 1860 – Bulli – various political meetings held at Alexander’s house
• 1858 – Bulli – birth of daughter Anne
• 1858 – Bulli – public meeting on the Bulli Road is held at Alexander’s home
• 1858 – Bulli – public notice of lost cow in Illawarra Mercury mentioning Alexander McKenzie and son John McKenzie – 1,
• 1858 – Bulli – obituaries for Neil McKenzie refers to a brother Alexander McKenzie of Bulli
• 1859 – Bulli – public notice of a horse to stand for breeding purposes at Alexander’s home
• 1859 – Bulli – public notices of a John McKenzie of Bulli closing and then resuming his butchery business – Alexander’s son or a nephew?
• 1859 – 1860 – Bulli – Alexander McKenzie and John McKenzie of Bulli are listed in a political advertisement(s) in the Illawarra Mercury – 1, 2,
• 1860 – Bulli – birth of daughter Flora
• 1860 – Northern Illawarra –  possibly Alexander’s son, a J McKenzie is part of a Northern Illawarra team led by H Hicks (his future brother in law ?) at the Anniversary Day Cricket Match – 1,
• 1861 – Bulli – birth of son Charles
• 1861 – Bulli – marriage of daughter Mary to Henry Thomas Hicks at Alexander McKenzie Jnr’s home
• 1861 – Bulli – marriage of daughter Catherine to John Ross at Alexander McKenzie Jnr’s home
• 1862 – Bulli – birth of son Archibald
• 1862 – Woonona –  Alexander McKenzie Jnr offers land for a School of Arts building – 1, 2,
• 1862 – Bulli – Alexander McKenzie Jnr is part of a public meeting for a proposed local National School
• 1862 – 1863 – Bulli – sale(s) of Alexander McKenzie’s land – possibly due to mortgage foreclosures
• 1862 – 1863 – Alexander McKenzie Jnr preparing to move to the Taralga area – John and Angus are the only children of Alexander’s first marriage known to have accompanied their father – son Donald (1853) and daughters Anne (Hicks) (1861) and Catherine (Ross) (1861) were already married; the whereabouts of twin Agnus is unknown after her 1844 baptism; sons Daniel and Alexander are believed to have gone gold mining in New Zealand, possibly by 1858 as only John is listed in the 1858 – 1860 political meetings and the public notices for the lost cow; the 1892 probate notices also indicate that their last known whereabouts was on the New Zealands goldfields
• 1863 – Thomas Hale of Bulli Woonona Testimonial – possibly son John McKenzie was a contributor
• Taralga
• 1863 – birth of youngest child Christina b 1863 Taralga, Goulburn – daughter of Alexander McKenzie Jnr and his second wife  Elizabeth Hanks
• 1865 – son John married Rebecca Rook  in the Church of Scotland, Redbank, Taralga,
• 1866 – birth and death of son John’s first child, Sarah McKenzie
• 1867 – birth of son John’s second child, John Alexander McKenzie, often known as Alex – his birth and death were both registered as John Alexander McKenzie however – he had left the Taralga area by 1913
• 1869 – birth of son John’s third child, George William McKenzie at Marmont Flat, Taralga – he had left the Taralga area by 1900
• 1871 – birth of son John’s fourth child, Donald McKenzie at Marmont Flat, Taralga – he had left the Taralga area by 1893 – 1894
• 1871 – son Angus had married in Bathurst and was a miner in Hill End – his usual residence on the marriage certificate was given as Taralga
• 1872 – Grevilles Postal Directory for Taralga has an Alex McKenzie and John McKenzie at Marmont’s Flat, West Richlands, Taralga – 1, 2,
• 1872 – birth of Angus’ only child, George Charles McKenzie in Hill End
• 1873 – Alexander McKenzie may have sought land by Conditional Purchase in Grenfell – there is a reference in Trove to an Alexander McKenzie in Grenfell in 1873 – was this our Alexander McKenzie Jnr – 1? There do not appear to be too many references in Trove to Alexander McKenzie or A. McKenzie in Grenfell after 1873, so perhaps it was our Alexander?
• 1874 – birth of son John’s fifth child Angus McKenzie at Marmont Flat, Taralga – he had left the Taralga area by 1919
• 1875 – Grevilles Postal Directory for Taralga has an Alex McKenzie and John McKenzie at Marmont’s Flat, West Richlands, Taralga – 1,
• 1875  – birth of son John’s sixth child known as John and whose birth was registered as John McKenzie and his electoral roll registrations later showed him as John Alexander McKenzie, curious considering it is the same name as his eldest brother. He was living at Narromine by 1930, and it is uncertain when he had left the Taralga district
• Grenfell
• 1876 – Alexander McKenzie Jnr and wife Elizabeth Hanks with their children, possibly  left Taralga,  noting the marriage of their daughter Elizabeth to Robert Smart Adams in 1876, and then another daughter Ann‘s later marriage in Grenfell in 1879 .
• 1879 – marriage of Alexander McKenzie Jnr and Elizabeth Hanks’ daughter Anne  to James Hamilton in Grenfell
• 1880 – son Thomas  married Mary O’Connor in Forbes
• Cowra / Canowindra/ Glen Logan
• 1882 – son Archibald married in Cowra to Selina Annie Hannan
• 1886 – Marriage of Hugh McKenzie to Flora Ann McRae at Cowra
• 1886 – Death of mother Elizabeth McKenzie nee Hanks at Cowra
• 1886 – Birth of Hugh McKenzie’s daughter Isabel Elithea Flora McKenzie at Molong
• 1888 – Birth of Hugh McKenzie’s daughter Elizabeth Mary McKenzie at Molong
• 1890 – Birth of Hugh McKenzie’s daughter Eva Annie McKenzie at Molong
• 1891 – Birth of Hugh McKenzie’s daughter Laura Eliza Julia McKenzie at Canwindra
• 1891 – Death of Alexander McKenzie Jnr