Obituaries Australia

  • Tip: searches only the name field
  • Tip: use double quotes to search for a phrase
  • Tip: lists of awards, schools, organisations etc

Browse Lists:

Cultural Advice

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website contains names, images, and voices of deceased persons.

In addition, some articles contain terms or views that were acceptable within mainstream Australian culture in the period in which they were written, but may no longer be considered appropriate.

These articles do not necessarily reflect the views of The Australian National University.

Ivor MacGillivray (1840–1939)

Mr. Ivor MacGillivray, of Rosewater, one of the first Labor men to be elected to the State Parliament, died at the Adelaide Hospital on Monday at the age of 98. His death followed a fall last week when he broke a thigh.

Mr. MacGillivray represented Port Adelaide in the Assembly from 1893 to 1918. He missed only two days from the sittings during his 25 years in Parliament.

Mr. MacGillivray was born at Lossiemouth (Scotland), and, at the age of 11 started work on a farm. For his labors he received 5/ a month and his lodgings. After four years farming he went to sea, signing on the barque Lady Agnes Duff, as an apprentice. The vessel traded along the coast of China, and during his sea career he often visited Australia. He was so impressed with the Commonwealth that when he was 18 he left his ship and signed on the ship Ocean Chief, bound for Australia. He was receiving 1/ a month, so that he would get his discharge upon arrival of the ship at Melbourne.

Joining the gold rush, then at its height, Mr. MacGillivray went to Bendigo. He was fairly successful there, and also later in New Zealand. He returned to Melbourne, went on a visit to Scotland and then was in Western Australia for a period.

Coming to Port Adelaide, he joined the Working Men's Association, of which he was chairman for 16 years, and trustee for 30 years. He worked on the wharves until he entered Parliament. Mr. MacGillivray lost his seat through differences with his party over the conscription issue during the war. His only son was killed on Gallipoli.

Mr. MacGillivray is survived by a widow and two daughters—Mesdames Florence Waye, of Glossop, and Irene Moon, of Long street, Queenstown. Mrs. MacGillivray was born at Port Adelaide. Before her marriage she was Miss Ellen Pippet.

Original publication

Additional Resources and Scholarship

  • photo, Weekly Herald (Adelaide), 24 April 1896, p 1

Citation details

'MacGillivray, Ivor (1840–1939)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/macgillivray-ivor-34346/text43103, accessed 5 November 2024.

© Copyright Obituaries Australia, 2010-2024