Inn-keeper "Glenelg Inn" & Postmaster at the Adelaide old crossing-place
on the Glenelg river, now Casterton, S-W Victoria, Australia
1810-1820 : birth of Alexander McKINLAY ? ...
No information on the birth of Alexander McKINLAY has been located. It is not mentioned with his marriage in 1840 or death in 1848. Given that he was a merchant in Melbourne, Port Phillip when he married in 1840 it could be assumed that he was probably born before 1820......
1823, 16th April : birth of Mary KIRBY ...
Mary KIRBY was born on 16th April 1823 at Blakesly, Northamptonshire, England, the first child of William KIRBY and Emma WILMER who had married in the previous year. Another 8 children were born at Blakesly, Northamptonshire, England up to 1839. In May 1840 the family arrived on board the ship "China" at Melbourne, Port Phillip, NSW after sailing London in early 1840.1840 : Alexander McKINLAY, his marriage ...
MARRIED-By Special License, on the 30th ult. at Melbourne, by the Rev. James Forbes, Alex. Mackinlay, Esq., Merchant there, to Mary, eldest daughter of William Kirby, Esq., late of Blakesly, Northamptonshire."Colonial Times" (Hobart) Tuesday, 13th October 1840Mary KIRBY was born in 1823 at Blakesley, Northamptonshire, England, eldest child of William KIRBY 1800-1863 and Emma WILMER 1796-1854. She arrived at Melbourne, Port Phillip in 1840 on the "China" along with her parents and 7 siblings.
1846 : Alexander McKINLAY, opened his Inn & supplied a punt across the Glenelg river ...
A Mr. Alexander Mackinlay opened (on the 15th September) an inn, at what is called the Adelaide old crossing-place on the Glenelg river, and had not only supplied that ferry with a punt capable of carrying three tons, but intended to have another forthwith to ply upon the Wannon."South Australian Register" (Adelaide, SA) Wednesday, 11th November 1846.
1847 : Alexander McKINLAY, Post-master, new "Glenelg" Post Office ...
Post Office, Melbourne, 12th July, 1847.
NEW POST OFFICES.
NOTICE is hereby given that, under sanction of His Honor the Superintendent, Post Offices have been established as follows ..
At the " Leigh" River, between Geelong and Fiery Creek-Mr. F. Ormond to act as Postmaster.
At the " Glenelg" River, beyond the Grange-Mr. Alexander M'Kinlay to act as Postmaster.
The arrangement for receipt and despatch of the Mails, will be..
To leave Melbourne every Tuesday morning, per steamer, at half-past 7, arriving at the Leigh every Tuesday by 6 o'clock, The return mail to leave the Leigh every Sunday at 4, p.m., arriving at Melbourne with the steamer every Monday afternoon.
To leave Melbourne every Thursday at half-past 4, p.m., arriving at the Glenelg every Sunday by 2 p.m. The return mail to leave the Glenelg every Friday at 10 o'clock, a.m., arriving at Melbourne with the steamer every afternoon.
Parties wishing to receive their communications through either of these Post Offices, are advised to caution their correspondents to address their letters and Newspapers to the office distinctly by its name, so as to prevent confusion or delay in the delivery.
HENRY D. KEMP, Chief Postmaster"The Melbourne Argus" (Vic.) Friday, 30th July 1847.
1847 : Alexander McKINLAY, Post-master, new mail service to Wallace's new country ...
Postal. - Arrangements are in the course of being made by Mr. M'Kinlay, post-master on the Glenelg, and the settlers in what is called Wallace's new country, to run a mail from the Glenelg post-office, in a circuit to the northward, of about one hundred and twenty miles, by which means as many as fifty of the most distant stations, in a northerly or north-west direction from Portland, will be regularly reached and brought within a convenient distance of the township.-Portland Guardian."The Melbourne Argus" (Vic.) Friday, 20th August 1847.
1847 : Alexander McKINLAY, Inn flooded ...
The Mount Gambier and Glenelg Districts. - The Glenelg throughout its whole course, but more especially below the junction of the Wannon, has been higher this winter than it has been previously known since its settlement. The floods have been chiefly occasioned by the heavy snow-storms upon the Grampians and Victoria mountains. Mr. M'Kinlay's inn, erected at the ford, on the old road to Adelaide, has been flooded several feet deep. The flats on both sides have been covered, and communication with the opposite bank was for a time suspended....-Correspondent of Port Phillip Gazette.1848 : Alexander McKINLAY, his death ..."The Moreton Bay Courier" (Brisbane, Qld.) Saturday, 16th October 1847.
Fatal Occurrence.—We sincerely regret to have to report the demise of Mr Alexander MacKinlay, of the Glenelg Inn. Intelligence was brought to town on Monday last of the occurrence which brought about this, especially to his family, unhappy event. It would appear he was returning home from Mount Gambier on Friday last, and in crossing a swamp, his horse got bogged, and he was thrown into the midst of it, from which be could not extricate himself, and after which he was not seen alive. His horse with much difficulty rescued itself, and a man who was with Mr. MacKinlay, caught the animal and returned home with the sad news, without, it would seem, being able to render assistance to the deceased. The body has not been recovered, but the Coroner left, on Tuesday, for the scene of the accident, to make enquiries. Reports have subsequently reached town suggesting the painful impression of his death having been brought about by other than accidental causes ; but accounts are so very contradictory, it is impossible to reconcile them.—Portland Guardian."The Argus" Tuesday, 21st November 1848
Mr. A. M'Kinlay, an innkeeper at Portland, was killed on the 10th instant ; he was thrown from his horse in a swamp, and was unable to extricate himself."The Sydney Morning Herald" (NSW) Wednesday, 29th November 1848.
1848 : Alexander McKINLAY, 1st burial at "The Crossing Place" ...THE LATE Mr. A. McKINLAY.-The body of Mr. M'Kinlay having been found, an inquest was holden, and a verdict of accidental drowning returned. The deceased, had been collecting debts, and was, returning home from the Border Inn. In attempting to cross a swamp, near Mr. Beilby' hut his horse had to swim a considerable distance ; on reaching a bed of reeds, in the middle of the swamp, his horse began to plunge and rear and he fell off ; the horse found its way out, leaving its rider behind. After searching for the body for four days, it was at length discovered by the hat being seen a foot under water, the body being nearly in an erect position. Deceased had about eighty pounds in his packet, and a bottle of brandy. He was sober when the occurrence took place.-Portland Guardian."The Argus" Wednesday, 6th December 1848
The first reference to any burial was that of the ill fated founder of the town, Alex McKINLAY. He had been up to the Border Inn in company with a Thomas SHORT. The Inn at that time was kept by a Mr. MUNRO. It was in the spring of 1846 [sic 1848], and following heavy winter rains, the Boiling Down Swamp was full of water. McKINLAY and SHORT had a flock of sheep running on the Strathdownie Run. Despite the entreaties of his companion, McKinlay was determined to ride through the swamp, although his companion rode around it. Half way through the swamp the horse began to flounder, and unseating McKINLAY, kicked him on the head, striking him heavily, and it seems the kick from the horse's hoof, not drowning, caused McKINLAY's death. When Mr SHORT returned to the Glenelg Inn to acquaint Mrs McKINLAY with the sad news, a boat and search party was sent from Casterton, and McKINLAY's body was not found till two days after the accident.He was buried on the banks of the Glenelg, where the McPHERSONs formerly lived and afterwards at ROSS's Garden. Mrs W. McPHERSON vividly recalls in her diary that she could well remember having seen the white paling fence around the grave on the river bank. (ROSS's Garden was close to the site of the present pre-school centre.)
Source (unknown)
Alexander McKINLAY & Mary KIRBY had the following children ...
1853 : Mary McKINLAY, widow, nee KIRBY m. 1853 at Casterton, S-W Victoria to Albert Maria von St Luz BODEN 1818-1891.