James Hood Mackie (1858 - 1934)

Born 21 Dec 1858 in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 11 Aug 1934 at age 75 in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

James was born^[1] Dec 21, 1858 at Specimen Hill, Ballarat, the son of Robert Mackie and Catherine Hood.

He married^[2] Mary K Murray during 1882 at Sydney, NSW.

James died^[3] Aug 10, 1934 at his home "Yeronga" at Waratah, a lovely Obituary appears in the Newcastle Morning Herald and Miner's Advocate^[4] on Sat Aug 11, 1934; transcript follows:

MR. J. MACKIE

Death at Waratah

SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS CAREER

Mr. J. Mackie, founder of the firm of J. Mackie and Co. Ltd., furniture ware housemen, died at his home, "Yeronga," Waratah, yesterday. During the past 12 months, Mr. Mackie had ceased to take an active part in business affairs, and for three months had been confined to his home. There, for a fortnight, he had been seriously ill, and all the family were at his bedside during the closing hours of his life.

Mr.Mackie was born at Specimen Hill, Ballarat, on December 21, 1858. He remained in Victoria until he was 25 years of age, then came to Sydney, where he established himself as an accountant. In March, 1897, he came to Newcastle, and founded the Federal Furnishing Warehouse of J. Mackie and Co., on the site that was formerly occupied by the old Union Inn, Hunter-street West. With the development and expansion of the enterprise, additional purchases of properties were made. On these were erected the modern factories in King-street, and the bulk store in Auckland-street. Mr. Mackie took a personal pride in the class of furniture manufactured by his firm, which catered for business as far as the Queensland border.

PIONEER OF EARLIER CLOSING.

After some years in business in Newcastle, Mr. Mackie inaugurated the movement for the earlier closing of retail shops. These at the time were kept open each night until either 7' o'clock or 11 o'clock. Mr. Mackie adopted 6 o'clock as the closing hour for his business, and a year later legislation was enacted by the State Government making 6 o'clock closing compulsory.

No employer has shown a kindlier interest in the welfare of his employees, or of the workers as a body, than Mr. Mackie. His business relations with them were on an extensive scale. In the early days, with the primitive methods of coalmining, accidents were frequent, and often fatal. In every instance where this happened, and the family were indebted to his firm, Mr. Mackie, with graceful and practical sympathy, had a full receipt for the purchase money extended to those bereaved. Numberless acts of generosity went unseen and unrecorded, and it was always his wish that this should be so. During the coal hold-up of 1909, he consistently and liberally supported the miners' lodges. The Deaf and Dumb Institution at Waratah, and kindred institutions made a strong appeal to his sympathies, which were over readily extended to the less fortunate. He took a keen interest in the work of the Friendly Societies. He was Chairman of Trustees of Lodge Harmony, No, 15, also the Treasurer of the lodge, a life governor of the Freemasons' Benevolent Institution, and was the moving spirit in the building of the Lyric Theatre in Newcastle.

Mr. Mackie was an ardent bowler. He was Patron of Newcastle District Bowling Association, Patron of Muswellbrook Bowling Club, and for a period of years was President and Patron of Waratah Bowling Club. During his presidency an up-to-date bowling pavilion was erected. He was a member of the New South Wales Master Builders' Association, and with the members of that organisation made frequent trips to Suva, New Zealand and to the other States taking an active part in the various bowling carnivals.

Mr. Mackie is survived by his widow and a family of 11. The sons are Mr. James M. Mackie (Melbourne),. Mr. Alexander Mackie and Mr. David Mackie (both of Waratah). The daughters are Mrs. C. J. Davis. (Waratah), Mrs. J. Bearman (Sydney), Mrs. J. Dean (Waratah), Mrs. H. Liley (Sydney), Mrs A, Wark (Waratah), Mrs. V. Nicholas (Sydney), Mrs. W. Connors (Waratah), and Mrs. O. Croft (Fassifern).

The funeral is announced to leave Mr. Mackie's late home at 3 p.m. to-day, and will proceed by road to Sandgate cemetery. The interment will be made in the family grave.

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Index, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages Victoria, Australia, database online; Birth; VIC; 1859/1992 BALLT; index. Jas Hood Mackie; father: Robt mother: Cath (Hood).
2. ↑ Marriage Index, NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages, GPO Box 30, Sydney, NSW, 2001 Australia, Marriage; NSW; 1882/1950 Sydney; index. James Mackie; spouse: Mary K Murray
3. ↑ Death Index, NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages, GPO Box 30, Sydney, NSW, 2001 Australia, Death; NSW; 1934/12913 Mayfield; index. James Mackie; father: Robert mother: Catherine.
4. ↑ MR. J. MACKIE (1934, August 11). Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) , p. 12. Retrieved October 2, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article135114364