George Mackay
Kiandra 1861

Historical Text | Genealogy | Devenny Family

George and Sarah (Barrett) Mackay	Mountain View, Adaminaby
Federal Hotel, built by George in 1912 in Adaminaby,  burn down seven years later

Another brother, William, went to the USA but later visited his brothers in Australia sometime in the 1890s. David and Robert remained in Ireland, but have no descendants alive today.

GEORGE MACKAY

George Mackay was born in 1837 and was a young man when he left the green hills of his birthplace for the attraction of making his fortune in the gold fields of Australia.

In 1860 after his arrival on the ship Lady McDonald, George set forth to the booming

Kiandra goldfields. He walked, carrying his worldly possessions on his back, from Kiama to Merimbula and on to Kiandra.

As a youth in Ireland George had learned the trade of shoemaking and during the day he delved and dug for the precious metal and at night worked till the small hours making boots for the miners. These were sold for the reasonable price of 20 shillings per pair (around $2.00).

While at Kiandra George was joined by his brother Samuel who had sailed on the ship Peerless. After a successful time at Kiandra George proceeded to New Zealand and was later joined by Samuel on the goldfields of the West Coast of New Zealand.

George then proceeded to Charters Towers in Queensland, however he contracted it fever and was compelled to return to Kiandra, where he was reunited with his brother Samuel.

The brothers, after several years of fairly successful gold mining, joined in a store keeping business at Adaminaby (known in those days as Seymour). It was at this stage that George acquired the land on which he later built the Federal Hotel.

After a term of business George selected 400acres of the Adaminaby plains on which he built his home `Mountain View' and married Sarah Barrctt, the fourth daughter of George Barrctt of `lnglewood'. Through perseverance, indomitable energy, and despite many setbacks, he gradually increased the size of `Mountain View' to become quite a valuable property.

George and Sarah had a sizable family; five sons and four daughters; Ellen (Mrs William

Chalker) James, Florence, (Mrs Henry Giddings), Emily, George Samuel (GS), Sarah (Mrs Edwin Nuss), David (DA), Sam and Norman.

George continued to selectland and acquired a portion of 'Rosedale' (now 'Bolaro'), which he later exchanged for a similar sized acreage on the Adaminaby plains. Frequently he left his family well before dawn to travel to `Rosedale' (14 miles) to begin work at daybreak.

George was delighted if his wool brought 6 pence per pound. All food for the homestead was bought in bulk, and the clothing made by the girls from large rolls of material.

After many heated discussions with his bank manager concerning the intention to invest in land or build the Federal Hotel George won out and built the grand hotel in the heart of Adaminaby. It was burnt down after only a few years of operation and it was George's intention to rebuilt it but it is believed that his ill health did not allow this to happen.

For many years George was an active member of the community, being a JP, a trustee for the School of Arts, showgrounds, racecourse, Church of England School and church lands. He took an active part promoting the success of these institutions and the district generally.

George died at his homestead on November 17, 1917, in his 80th year. His five sons carried on the grazing tradition at 'Mountain View', which was divided between James with `Homeleigh', George S. with `Wyruna', David with `Brick Villa', Samuel with `Springwood', and Norman with the family home `Mountain View'.

Of George's nine children only four produced children and grand children.

Ellen married William Chalker; they had six children and the issue of their subsequent children totalled more than 62 descendants. Ellen moved to the Cowra district. Neil Chalker, a fourth generation descendant, managed the Cooma wool firm TWG for many years.

James married Christine Frew and their five children remained in the Monaro district. Their eldest son Dave was a great horseman and worked for many years as a national park ranger; it's been said that he could ride from Adaminaby to Corryong blindfolded.

Freda married Angus McPhie and two of their children, David and Alan, are still involved in farming and grazing activities on the Monaro. Jean was a nurse and worked her way to the top of the her profession, becoming deputy matron of Parramatta District Hospital. Bob and Bill were both soldiers and served in World War II. Bob married Cheryl Cochran and settled on a soldier's settlement block which was part of 'Bolaro' and their daughter Meagan is now in Canberra. Bill named his property `Turakina' after his experiences fighting in New Guinea.

David married Kathleen Russell and settled on part of the `Mountain View' estate, calling his property "Rock Villa" and building a homestead which was named "Brick Villa". He added "Greenbank", which had originally belonged to his Aunt Mary Henderson, and `Balgay', part of `Wambrook', to his holdings.

Four of the five of David's children settled around the Monaro. Ken purchased `Balgay', after many years of droving stock on mountain leases for his father. William (Bill), settled on `Greenbank'. Gwendoline married Wallace Woodhouse and settled at Rocky Plains. Neta married Don McNee and settled at `Caringo', Bobundara. John married Joyce Ferris and was involved in farming activities at Kempsey.

David's grandchildren currently living in the Cooma district include; Susan Bottom, Colin Mackay, Judy Cochran, Pam Brayshaw, Marnie Stewart, David Mackay, Carolyn Robinson and Charles Woodhouse.

Samuel (Sam) married Hannah Rossiter, the Rossiters being storekeepers in Adaminaby, on August 29, 1929. Sam grazed the portion of "Mountain View" known as "Springwood". The homestead was moved to the new town, when the old town was flooded by the Snowy Mountains Scheme.

Sam and brother Norman (NH) had snow leases in the mountains where they grazed about 1,500 sheep and 50 head of cattle. They built a hut, which still stands today, plus stock yards and many miles of fencing, in the Round Mountain area - and were very annoyed when their snow lease was revoked after 14 years.

With the coming of the Snowy Scheme and the flooding of the Adaminaby Plains, Sam and Norman moved, in 1955 from the district, with Sam purchasing `Cherry Bank' at Exeter, where his daughter Norma Penfold still resides.

Norman grazed the old `Mountain View' property and had other business dealings in property and real estate. He married Una Williams in 1932 and later divorced. He evidently owned a boarding house in Stanley Street near Hyde Park, Sydney, and this was managed by his sister Sarah. He also had a house at Burwood and purchased property in the Moss Vale area after leaving the Monaro when the old town of Adaminaby was flooded. Norman made his final move back to Cooma and died at his home in Lambie Street.

Florence, George's third daughter, was married to Henry Giddings and later divorced. It is not known if she had any children. She spent much of her life at `Mountain View' and in later years lived at `Cherry Bank' at Exeter.

Emily, the fourth child of George, lived only until 15 years of age - she died due to an appendix rupture, which in 1896 was difficult to treat in an isolated rural location.

George Samuel (GS) was born in 1884 and married Ida Dickson in 1925. They had no children. The naming of George caused great confusion in the Mackay clan as his father was George as well as his first cousin George Watkins (GW, son of George's brother Samuel) - he therefore was known as GS. GS grazed the portion of `Mountain View' known as `Wyruna', which he named from his experiences and associations while in New Zealand. GS also made a move from the Monaro and purchased flats in Bundanoon in which his niece Marie Denning has an interest today.

Sarah married Tom Reid and lived at Frying Pan then bought a property near Berridale. Some of her descendants live at Berridale and others in various centres in NSW

Information kindly supplied and written by Colin Mackay for the Snowy times on the occasion of the Mackay Reunion on the Australian Day Weekend 1993

Descendants of George MACKAY and Sarah BARRETT
Submitted by Christine Robinson <scrob1-at-pacific.net.au>
Updated 13.01.06

Descendants Report