Donald George Mackay CBE (1870 - 1958)

Donald Mackay CBE has Scottish Ancestors.

Donald George Mackay was born on 29th June 1870 in Yass, New South Wales, Australia. He was the second son of Alexander Mackay and Annie MacKenzie. ^[1] He was educated at Wallendbeen Public School and at Oaklands School, Mittagong. After a brief engineering apprenticeship he worked for his father until the latter's death in 1890.

During 1890-99 Donald travelled extensively abroad, and later prospected for gold in western New South Wales. ^[2]

In July 1899 Donald joined Alex White and others to become the first to cycle around the continent of Australia. His 24-inch frame, 29 lb Dux bicycle was especially strengthened to carry his weight plus his gear, which included two water cans, a set of tools and bicycle parts, a camera, waterproof rain cloak, diary, food bag, and revolver. Starting after the others, he set a record-breaking time of 240 days after the ride of 17,703 kilometres (11,500 miles). ^[2]

Donald married Amy Isabel Little on 16th April 1902 in Homebush, in Sydney's western suburbs. ^[3] Their home in Port Hacking, New South Wales, being on an estuary, facilitated the couple's love of fishing and sailing.

Donald led and financed an expedition to Papua in 1908 to investigate the headwaters of the Purari River. During the following decade he sailed a yacht in the South Pacific, visiting New Zealand and the Dutch East Indies. In 1926 he financed and accompanied the first of several expeditions to Australia's Northern Territory. During the first expedition, which utilised camel transport, he accompanied anthropologist Dr Herbert Basedow to the Petermann Ranges. In 1928 they explored Arnhem Land. ^[2]

Donald made several aerial surveys of large extents of Australia's outback during the 1930s. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1934 New Year's Honours for 'Scientific exploration in Central Australia'. ^[4] and raised to Commander (CBE) in February 1937 for 'Exploration of the interior of Australia'. ^[5]

Criticism by Donald of the harsh treatment of Aborigines, reported in the British press in July 1933, caused official denials; Prime Ministers Lyons and Stanley (Viscount) Bruce expressed concern at the harm done to Australia's reputation. Donald offered to withdraw his comment if Lyons could prove that the treatment of Aborigines had been humane. ^[2]

Donald Mackay received recognition from the Australian public in his old age as 'the last Australian explorer', whose travels significantly increased man's knowledge of remote areas. ^[2]

Having been widowered in 1956, Donald passed away, aged 88 years, on 17th September 1958 in the Sutherland Shire Hospital, Sutherland, New South Wales and is buried in Woronora Memorial Park, Sutherland. ^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #19233/1870
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} Clune, Frank P. Last of the Australian Explorers: The Story of Donald Mackay first ed., Angus & Robertson Ltd, Sydney, 1942, plate 7
3. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #3692/1902
4. ↑ Australian Honours: Officer of the Order of the British Empire; accessed 7 Apr 2019
5. ↑ Australian Honours: Commander of the Order of the British Empire; accessed 7 Apr 2019
6. ↑ New South Wales Death Index #21729/1958

See also

• Carment, David, Mackay. Donald George (1870 - 1958). Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, , published first in hardcopy 1986, accessed online 7 Apr 2019..
• [Clune, Frank P. Last of the Australian Explorers: The Story of Donald Mackay first ed., Angus & Robertson Ltd, Sydney, 1942].
• Wikipedia profile: David George Mackay; accessed 7 Apr 2019.