[Index]
Archibald A MCKEAHNIE (1836 - 1930)
grazier, JP
Children Self + Spouses Parents Grandparents Greatgrandparents
Charles MCKEAHNIE (1865 - 1907)
Elizabeth MCKEAHNIE (1867 - 1906)
Mary MCKEAHNIE (1873 - )
Jane Walker MCKEAHNIE (1877 - 1966)
 Archibald A MCKEAHNIE (1836 - 1930)

+

Mary MCMILLAN (1838 - 1913)
 Charles James MCKEAHNIE (1809 - 1903) Archibald MCKEAHNIE



Jane WALKER



Elizabeth MCGOWAN (1812 - 1899) George MCGOWAN



Anne STEWART



Archibald A MCKEAHNIE Mary MCMILLAN
Archibald A MCKEAHNIE Archibald A MCKEAHNIE
Archibald A MCKEAHNIE Mary MCMILLAN Archibald A MCKEAHNIE Archibald A MCKEAHNIE
b. 1836 at Ayrshire, Scotland
m. 1864 Mary MCMILLAN (1838 - 1913) at Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
d. 10 Mar 1930 at Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia aged 94
Near Relatives of Archibald A MCKEAHNIE (1836 - 1930)
Relationship Person Born Birth Place Died Death Place Age
Grandfather Archibald MCKEAHNIE
Grandmother Jane WALKER
Grandfather George MCGOWAN
Grandmother Anne STEWART

Father in Law Donald MCMILLAN
Mother in Law Betty MCGILL

Father Charles James MCKEAHNIE 04 Oct 1809 Dunskeg, Argyll, Scotland 27 Apr 1903 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 93
Mother Elizabeth MCGOWAN 1812 Isle of Bute, Renfrew, Scotland 05 Dec 1899 Tharwa, ACT, Australia 87

Self Archibald A MCKEAHNIE 1836 Ayrshire, Scotland 10 Mar 1930 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 94

Wife Mary MCMILLAN 1838 Argyll, Scotland 23 Dec 1913 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 75

Son Charles MCKEAHNIE 1865 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1907 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 42
Daughter Elizabeth MCKEAHNIE 1867 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 31 Aug 1906 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 39
Daughter Mary MCKEAHNIE 1873 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Daughter Jane Walker MCKEAHNIE 1877 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 05 Jan 1966 Murrumburrah, New South Wales, Australia 89

Sister Ann MCKEAHNIE 1837 Scotland 1840 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 3
Brother Alexander Anderson MCKEAHNIE 1840 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 29 Jan 1916 Adaminaby, Monaro, New South Wales, Australia 76
Sister Jane MCKEAHNIE 12 Apr 1842 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 28 Oct 1930 Junee, New South Wales, Australia 88
Sister Elizabeth Julia MCKEAHNIE 1844 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 02 Nov 1919 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 75
Brother George Henry MCKEAHNIE 17 Aug 1848 Gudgenby, New South Wales, Australia 29 Nov 1931 Randwick, New South Wales, Australia 83
Brother Charles Henry MCKEAHNIE 1851 Gudgenby, New South Wales, Australia 25 Feb 1923 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 72

Daughter in Law Sarah Jane Anne? READ 1870 Gundaroo, New South Wales, Australia 15 Aug 1929 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 59
Son in Law Joseph WINTER 1864 Canberra, ACT, Australia 1936 Gympie, Queensland, Australia 72
Son in Law Charles A PEDEN
Son in Law William Henry BELL 25 Nov 1886 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 23 Dec 1956 Boorowa, New South Wales, Australia 70

Granddaughter Mary WINTER 1894 Canberra, ACT, Australia
Grandson Donald Joseph WINTER 1896 Canberra, ACT, Australia 1896 Canberra, ACT, Australia 0
Grandson John Collinridge WINTER 1897 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia Jul 1974 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 77
Grandson Staney Carlyle BELL 1914 08 Sep 1930 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 16

Niece Janet E MCKEAHNIE 1861 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Jane C MCKEAHNIE 1863 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Mary F MCKEAHNIE 1866 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Charles L MCKEAHNIE 1868 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1895 Adaminaby, Monaro, New South Wales, Australia 27
Niece Flora Alexandra MCKEAHNIE 1873 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Emily G V MCKEAHNIE 1878 Cooma, Monaro, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Charles Archibald PEDEN 1873 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Archibald Alexander PEDEN 1875 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew George H PEDEN 1877 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Elizabeth B PEDEN 1879 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Alice Grace MCKEAHNIE 1878 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Henry Francis Charles MCKEAHNIE 1880 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1965 Gosford, New South Wales, Australia 85
Nephew Albert George Malcolm MCKEAHNIE 1883 Argyle, New South Wales, Australia 1944 St Peters, New South Wales, Australia 61
Niece Jane Elizabeth MCKEAHNIE 1874 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1877 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 3
Nephew Charles Henry Alexander George MCKEAHNIE 1877 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 09 Nov 1925 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 48
Niece Sarah Elizabeth MCKEAHNIE 1879 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1906 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 27
Nephew Ernest Archibald James MCKEAHNIE 1882 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 19 Jul 1915 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 33
Niece Edith Evelyn MCKEAHNIE 1886 Tharwa, ACT, Australia 29 May 1987 Pambula, Bega, New South Wales, Australia 101
Niece Eliza I MCKEAHNIE 1891 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Mary M MCKEAHNIE 1893 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Florence Lilian MCKEAHNIE 1896 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 23 Sep 1962 Canberra, ACT, Australia 66

Sister in Law Mary COCHRANE abt 1839 03 Nov 1911 Adaminaby, Monaro, New South Wales, Australia 72
Brother in Law Archibald PEDEN abt 1844 Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia 04 Jul 1917 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 73
Sister in Law Isabella WEST 15 Oct 1854 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 07 Jun 1924 Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia 69
Sister in Law Sarah Jane WEST 1852 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 16 Feb 1927 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 75
Events in Archibald A MCKEAHNIE (1836 - 1930)'s life
Date Age Event Place Notes Src
1836 Archibald A MCKEAHNIE was born Ayrshire, Scotland 6
1864 28 Married Mary MCMILLAN (aged 26) Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 2994/1864 6
1865 29 Birth of son Charles MCKEAHNIE Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 14402/1865 6
1867 31 Birth of daughter Elizabeth MCKEAHNIE Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 15338/1867 6
1873 37 Birth of daughter Mary MCKEAHNIE Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 17676/1873 6
1877 41 Birth of daughter Jane Walker MCKEAHNIE Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 19608/1877 6
05 Dec 1899 63 Death of mother Elizabeth MCGOWAN (aged 87) Tharwa, ACT, Australia 14856/1899 Quenabeyan 6
27 Apr 1903 67 Death of father Charles James MCKEAHNIE (aged 93) Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 76
31 Aug 1906 70 Death of daughter Elizabeth MCKEAHNIE (aged 39) Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 10239/1906 6
1907 71 Death of son Charles MCKEAHNIE (aged 42) Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 10869/1907
23 Dec 1913 77 Death of wife Mary MCMILLAN (aged 75) Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 19007/1913 6
10 Mar 1930 94 Archibald A MCKEAHNIE died Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1894/1930 6
Source References:
6. Type: Book, Abbr: Queanbeyan Register, Title: Biographical register of Canberra and Queanbeyan: from the district to the Australian Capital Territory 1820-1930, Auth: Peter Proctor, Publ: The Heraldry & Genealogical Society of Canberra, Date: 2001
- Reference = 211 (Name, Notes)
- Reference = 210 (Marriage)
- Reference = 211 (Birth)
- Reference = 211 (Death)
80. Type: Web Page, Abbr: Hall Museum, Title: Hall School Museum and Heritage Centre, Locn: https://museum.hall.act.au/
- Reference = https://museum.hall.act.au/display/1939/person/2291/archibald-mckeahnie.html (Name, Notes)
- Notes: Born: 1836; Died: 1930; Married: Mary McMillan

Related Places
Well(s) Station
The property and the homestead area is associated with the early European settlement and evolution...

Related Files
Archibald McKeanhie family tree ⧉ (RTF 497.6 kb)
Family Group Sheet of Archibald McKeahnie and Mary McKeahnie [McMillan].RTF

Archibald McKeanhie was the eldest child of Charles and Elizabeth McKeanhie (nee McGowan), who were early arrivals in the Queanbeyan area, and later settled at 'Booroomba' beyond Tharwa. Archibald McKeanhie was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1836 and came to Australia in 1851 at the age of fifteen. His parents had left him behind in England when they emigrated in 1838. Charles McKeanhie was originally employed by J J Moore on his 'Canberra' property, but by 1849 was able to purchase 'Gudgenby' station, and ten years later added 'Booroomba' station which he acquired from William Davis (Snr). His next purchase was 'Orroral', and as Archibald was his oldest son it was his job to build a homestead.

In 1864 Archibald married Mary McMillan who was described as spinster and dairywoman of Booroomba. They were living in the Orroral Valley, NSW, when their four children were born. The children were: Charles (1866); Elizabeth (1867) (Mrs Jospeh Winter); Mary (1873) (Mrs Charles Pedan (sic Peden)); Jane (1877) (Mrs Jane Walker Bell). Archibald soon became a successful farmer and landowner.

Whilst they were living at Orroral the family was involved in an unusual coroner's inquiry:

Local intelligence. Fatal accident

Dr Morton, the coroner, left Queanbeyan early on Monday morning to hold an inquest at Orroral, Mr Archibald McKeahnie's station as to the death of a girl named Smith living in the employ of Mr McKeahnie who came to her death on Sunday morning. Orroral is nearly forty miles from Queanbeyan, and for the latter part of the distance the road is of a very difficult nature; it is not likely, therefore that the particulars gathered at the inquest will be procurable till sometime today. But, so far as we have ascertained, it appears that the deceased went on Sunday morning into the paddock on horseback to bring up a horse for Mr McKeahnie. Finding she did not return in reasonable time, her master looked out, and saw the horse she had been riding standing by a fence with the bit out of his mouth and the horse she had been sent after over the fence. Upon search being made for the girl she was found dead a short distance away under a tree. [The coroner returned to town late last evening. The circumstances of the death, as revealed by the depositions taken at the inquest (and which will be published in our next issue) vary slightly from the foregoing.] [Queanbeyan Age,14th October 1874 p. 2]

In the 1880's they purchased land in Goorooyarroo Paish and moved to Well Station, north of Canberra, where Archibald was a grazier and the Winter family were their neighbours. In Yemen's Directory of Landholders of NSW 1900 Archibald McKeahnie of Well Station is shown as 'growing wheat and maize, and grazing'. Archibald added a kitchen, a sitting-room and a bedroom to the homestead.

Archibald was in the news again in relation to a 'novel capture':

Mr Archibald McKeanhie, Well Station, Canberra, made what might be termed a novel capture of a fox on Saturday, 28th August. Whilst travelling from his own place to that of his brother (Mr. C. H. Mc Keahnie, Booroomba), Mr. McKeahnie made a halt in order to rest and feed his horse and to partake of his mid-day meal. The halt was made somewhere in the vicinity of Mr. R. J. Harris's house on the Queanbeyan-Tharwa Road, and the horse was fed from a nosebag. During the interim a full-grown fox came along and on seeing the horse walked up to obtain a near view of the animal and perhaps of the cart also. However Reynard (fox) probably did not notice any human being for he walked near enough for Mr. McKeahnie to hit him on the back of the cranium with a stick which 'settled him'. Mr. David Winter, of Canberra, who was with Mr. McKeahnie at the time and who skinned the fox, vouches for the truth of this statement.
[Queanbeyan Age. 3rd Septr, 1909, p 2]

He and Mary were evidently active supporters of the Canberra Presbyterian Church; he is reported as chairing and speaking at Tea Meetings at the church. Mary was also involved: 'With Mesdames A & C Cameron and Mrs P Shumack [Mary McKeanie] took the responsibility for the tables at the annual tea meeting held at Canberra Presbyterian Church. [Goulburn Evening Post 4.4.1885]. In the following year she is reported as 'playing a leading part in the catering with Mr F McDonald at a tea meeting at Presbyterian Church at Canberra'. [Wizard's Notes Post 19.10.1886]. Whilst still at Booroomba Archibald was a subscriber towards the erection of a Presbyterian Church at Queanbeyan (The Golden Age 29.3.1862). He was chosen as one of trustees of Hall Burial Ground in 1883 and also appointed a trustee with J W C Affleck of Gundaroo Cemetery.

In 1885 he suffered a serious injury when he was unseated while riding a spirited horse. 'The horse collided with the yard fence and Mr McKeahnie fractured his right collar bone and breast bone. He was taken to Queanbeyan by a neighbour Mr Gribble. Dr Des Sartos attended'. [Goulburn Evening Post 17.9.1885]

Archibald McKeahnie kept extending his property until, by 1915, he had acquired 2723 acres of freehold land in the area. This property, along with others in the same district, was resumed by the Commonwealth in March 1915. McKeahnie's son-in-law, Charles Peden, then leased the land from the Commonwealth from 1915 to 1926, followed by John Joseland, the Gungaderra Pastoral Co, E A G Mawson and the Rose family. Part of the old homestead is still leased.

Mary died in 1913 at Well's Station Homestead. Archibald moved to Queanbeyan following his wife's death and died there March 10, 1930. He is buried in St John's Church of England in Reid. His funeral service was conducted by the Rev J Frew Brown, Minister of St Stephens Presbyterian Church, Queanbeyan.

Obituary

After a lengthy illness the death took place in Queanbeyan District Hospital yesterday of Mr Archibald McKeahnie at the advanced age of 93 years. Deceased was the eldest son of the late Mr and Mrs Charles McKeahnie and was born in Scotland arriving in this country at the age of 18 years with his parents who were among the pioneering families of the Queanbeyan District in which deceased resided ever since. For many years he owned Well Station, Canberra, which was resumed by the Commonwealth some fifteen years ago and since that time he has lived in Queanbeyan. Two daughters, Mrs W Bell Queanbeyan and Mrs C A Peden Goulburn survive him and there are 14 grandchildren. His wife predeceased him many years ago...His remains were interred in the Anglican Cemetery of St John's Canberra this afternoon. [Queanbeyan Age 11.3.1930]

[Ed - with contribution by Dylan Rattenbury]
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