Donald McKENZIE b. 1827 Ardnamurchan, Argyllshire, Scotland, son of Archibald McKENZIE, farmer and Jessie McLACHLAN, married Mary McDONALD c.1834-1913, b. Isle of Mull, Scotland, daughter of Capt. John McDONALD & Mary McINNES in 1859 at "Audley" Station, near Branxholme, S-W Victoria, Australia.
Donald M'KENZIE selected his property which he named "The Glen" at Grassdale, near Digby in 1865 and farmed there for the remainder of his life.
NOTE : The image on the right of Donald McKENZIE was located in New Zealand (thanks Tony in Christchurch) and had the following message written on the back -- "Donald MacKenzie "The Glen" Grassdale Victoria. Wishing you A Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year. 7.12.02" Donald probably sent the photograph for Christmas 1902 to his brother Duncan McKENZIE 1829-1912 who was living in Dunedin, New Zealand.
Donald and Mary McKENZIE both died at their residence "The Glen" Grassdale, near Digby, S-W Victoria in 1910 & 1913 respectively and are buried in the Branxholme cemetery.
"The Hamilton Spectator" Saturday, 19th November 1910.
OBITUARY --- LATE MR. DONALD M'KENZIE.--The late Mr. M'Kenzie (writes our Branxholme correspondent) was born in 1827 at Ardnamurchan, Argyleshire, Scotland. He was the fourth son of Archibald M'Kenzie, and brother of the late Captain Alexander and Captain John and Mr. Duncan M'Kenzie, of Dunedin, New Zealand, who is the only surviving one of a family of six sons. The deceased was engineer on trading vessels in foreign parts, being four years in the Mediterranean. He arrived in Port Phillip bay in the White Swan in 1854, and worked at several diggings in gold fever days. He came to Hamilton in its infancy, when it was called the Grange, and married Mary, second daughter of the late Captain M'Donald of Tobermory, who is still living. He also had a family of five daughters, viz., Mrs. John Robson, of Aberfeldy, Glenthompson ; Mrs. M. W. Dwyer, of Clifford, Merino ; the other three being unmarried, and residing with the mother at the Glen. Mr. M'Kenzie first settled at Branxholme, but afterwards removed to Grassdale, where he has resided ever since. The family are most estimable people and have a large number of friends and relatives in different parts of the world.
Donald McKENZIE & Mary McDONALD had the following family...
- Catherine "Kitty" McKENZIE 1859-1915, b. Branxholme, S-w Victpria, single, d. "The Glen" Grassdale, S-W Victoria.
- Margaret Jane McKENZIE 1861-1933, b. Branxholme, S-W Victoria, single, d. Merino, S-W Victoria.
- Archibald McKENZIE 1863-1866, b. and d. 1866 Branxholme, S-W Victoria.
- Janetta "Jessie" McKENZIE 1866-1948, b. Grassdale, near Digby, S-W Victoria, d. Portland, S-W Victoria, m. 1903 to John ROBSON 1846-1924, b. Northumberland, England to to Andrew ROBSON and Mary POTTS, d. Melbourne, Victoria. Published a story in 1933 based on the recollections of Mrs Samuel Evans YOUNG, of the "Black Thursday" (6th Feb 1851) fires at "Grassdale" Station, near Digby, S-W Victoria.
- Mary McKENZIE 1868-1961, b. Grassdale, near Digby, S-W Victoria, d. Portland, S-W Victoria, m. 1904 to Michael William DWYER 1870-1938, b. Gypsy Valley, Tahara, S-W Victoria, d. "Clifford" Mocamaboro, near Merino, S-W Victoria.
- Flora McKENZIE 1870-1958, b. Grassdale, near Digby, S-W Victoria, single, d. Portland, S-W Victoria.
- John Alexander McKENZIE 1872-1873, b. and d. 1866 Grassdale, S-W Victoria.