Obituaries Australia

James Mackinnon, n.d.

from Pastoral Review and Graziers' Record, 16 July 1957

Mr. James Curdie Mackinnon, a prominent member of one of Australia's best known pioneer pastoral families, died in Melbourne on 4th July at the age of 92. Throughout his long life Mr. Mackinnon played a leading part in developing the primary industries and he was widely known for his sound judgment and congenial nature.

He was the last surviving son of the late Mr. Daniel Mackinnon, who settled at Marida Yallock, near Terang, in 1838, and was educated at Geelong Grammar School and Cambridge University, where he proved to be good at sport, particularly cricket (as a slow left arm bowler) and golf. On his return to Australia he joined the firm of Strachan, Murray, and Shannon, Geelong, Vic., but on the death of his father resigned to supervise the management of Marion Downs Station, in western Queensland. During this period he established something of a record for endurance by travelling on two horses ridden alternately, in three days the 300-mile journey from Marion Downs to Winton.

Subsequently, Mr. Mackinnon was associated with Mr. W. K. Mackinnon and Messrs. T. and E. Manifold in Wyangarie Estate, northern N.S.W. Under his management this estate was subdivided into dairy farms which formed the nucleus of what is now a rich dairying district around Kyogle. Another family venture with which Mr. Mackinnon was closely associated was Tintaldra Station, a cattle property at Tintaldra, in northeastern Victoria, and of which he was still managing director at the time of his death. He was recognised as a very good judge of cattle and supervised most of the arrangements for moving many large mobs from the family's Queensland properties to southern stations and markets.

Mr. Mackinnon, who was a bachelor, devoted a good deal of his time to outside interests. He was a director of many companies, being chairman for some years of Strachan and Co., the Union Trustee Co. of Australia, and Trufood Australia Ltd. He was also a member of the Council of the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria and in 1937 was president of the Melbourne Club.