Alexander Mackenzie

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Colin Cook on 24th April 2016

Alexander Mackenzie appeared before a Parliamentary Select Committee on Rewards to Discoverers of Gold Fields in 1866, where he was questioned about the discovery of gold at Steiglitz.

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Rachel Johnson on 10th January 2016

Alexander is buried on the property of Peter and Dawn Macdonald in Meredith Victoria 3333. The property is now named ‘Darra’ near Eclipse Creek. The grave itself is off Whinray Rd / Granny McKenzies Lane. Alexander is buried there along with his children Elizabeth 18 months, Morgan 15 months, John 9 years. Alexander died on the 18th December 1876 at the age of 54 years. On the morning of his death he had trouble catching a horse to get some water. His wife Elizabeth (maiden name Morgan)and two neighbours (Abel Roberts and William Baille) helped him to catch the horse. He went and fetched the water and when he returned he felt bad all over his body. Alexander has another son, Edward, who is buried at Meredith Cemetary (Slate Quarry Rd).

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AaronRichard on 3rd January 2015

Alexander McKenzie was convicted of larceny at the Dumfries Court of Justice on 23 April 1838, aged 16 years. This was the last in a number of repeat offences for housebreaking and shoplifting and he was transported to Tasmania for seven years. The surgeon's and health report recorded him as being in good health, but bad tempered and idle. He sailed from Sheerness, Sheppy Island (near Kent, England) on 22 November 1838 on the ship PYRAMUS, arriving in Tasmania on the 24 March 1839. Whilst in Tasmania, Alexander accrued a great number of further convictions for theft, absenteeism and disobeyance of orders. These included one conviction for theft which added 12 months to his sentence, and one for absconding from his sentence which added 2 years and a recommendation that he be removed to Port Arthur. A number of incidents relating to disobeyance, misconduct and improper language saw him placed in solitary confinement, while others earned him hard labour in chains. One conviction whilst already serving in chains lead to specific instructions that he be kept tired for one month's labour. He received his ticket-of-leave on the 9th of June 1845, but due to his further convictions did not received his Free Certificate until the 24th of October 1848. Alexander received Convict Permission to marry fellow convict Elizabeth Morgan in April 1847 and were married at St Luke's United Church of England and Ireland on the 10th of May 1847, at Campbell Town in Tasmania. Their first child, Catherine, was born in Campbell Town in December of that year. He received Free Passage to Victoria - by servitude - on the ship SHAMROCK, on the 17th of April 1850. In Victoria, he settled at Eclipse Creek, near Meredith, where he and Elizabeth farmed and raised a family. He died on 18 December, 1876. His descendants still live in Victoria and around Australia today.