Obituaries Australia

Charles McKeahnie, n.d.

from Pastoral Review, 16 April 1923

On the 25th February there passed away at Queanbeyan, N.S.W., a very well known and highly esteemed pastoralist in the person of Charles Henry McKeahnie.

Born on the 22nd March, 1851, at Gudgenby, in the Queanbeyan district, he was 72 years of age at the time of his death, and during a large portion of that period was closely identified with pastoral matters, both as a breeder of high class Hereford cattle and a valued member of the various pastoral and agricultural organisations of the district.

Mr. McKeahnie was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles McKeahnie, who arrived from Scotland in 1838, and shortly after took up the Gudgenby holding. In 1859 they acquired Booroombah, Queanbeyan, and in 1873 the subject of the present notice assumed the management of it, and retained possession until the day of his death. For very many years the property carried a very fine type of Merino sheep, but about thirty years ago Mr. McKeahnie converted it into a cattle station, and started breeding stud Herefords. On the occasion of the visit to Australia of the secretary of the Hereford Cattle Society of Great Britain he visited and inspected Mr. McKeahnie's herd, and spoke in high praise of it. He was a member of the council of the Stud Beef Cattle Breeders' Association of Australia and of the Australian Hereford Society.

Mr. McKeahnie was a man of high integrity, and was ever on the alert to extend sympathy and assistance to those in difficulties. Conscientious and straight in all his dealings, and possessing a kindly disposition, he was looked up to by all associated with him. His death will be regretted by a great number of people in the Queanbeyan district who had the privilege of his friendship.

Mr. McKeahnie is survived by his wife, one son, Mr. A. G. McKeahnie, and a daughter, Mrs. H. A. Dulhunty.