Scottish born Dr. Ellar McKellar McKinlay was the second son of Dugald McKinlay (1782-1870) and Catherine (1780-1851). His father was landed gentry who built an inn and several houses. He attended medical school in Glasgow and graduated around 1837.
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His siblings were Alexander, John, Duncan, and Mary.
Dr. McKinlay commenced his medical career at Greenock Hospital (Scotland) as mentioned in a couple of letters which survive, between him and his brother, John, who had already started a new life in Australia. On 25 October 1839, Dr. McKinlay was engaged as the Medical Superintendent for the barque Portland for its journey from Greenock, Scotland to Sydney.
His journey was with fewer passengers than previous sailings due to news being received in Scotland that Australia was in drought, and the price of food was high. This stopped people booking their passage to Australia. Only 60 Government immigrants were aboard, a very low number. The journey was uneventful with only one birth, and one death recorded.
The barque arrived in Sydney 7th February 1840. Aboard was free settler Dr. Cadell (a relative of the Rev. F.A. Cadell formerly of Dungog).
The McKinlay brothers were adventurous and had that entrepreneurial spirit as they all took the voyage as free settlers to Australia and left their mark in history. John McKinlay immigrated to South Australia earlier in 1836 accompanied by brother, Alexander. John became a famous Australian explorer and with exceptional bushman skills. He was engaged by the Government to lead the search party for the lost explorers Burke and Wills.
He later married his best mate's daughter, Jane (nee Pile), nearly 20 years his junior. They had a son who unfortunately died in infancy and no more followed. John died on New Year's Eve 1872 after a brief illness. His widow died much later in 1914.
There are several monuments in South Australia and along the Murray River commemorating his achievements.
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Brothers Alexander and Duncan's lives were cut short by accident and murder respectively; living in Australia in the 1800s could be very unpredictable. Mary remained in Scotland and married Robert Hunter, a Chief Magistrate and Timber Merchant in Glasgow.
Shortly after arriving in Sydney, Dr. McKinlay made his way to Dungog and in 1841 he was registered at Mackay Street with a male (free settler) servant. No doubt during these early years of Dungog Dr. McKinlay saw his fair share of tragedy and death from horse and buggy related injuries, broken bones, sawmill and land clearing accidents, measles, typhoid, and snake bites to name a few. It is difficult to consider the anguish of obtaining medical help when first you had to set out on horseback to ride some miles for help.
Dr. McKinlay practised in Dungog for nine years, but he left to join his brother John and together they purchased large pastorals runs, managed large stations but never became wealthy.
The sheer amount of work required, and stock needed to be on the runs was never within their reach, so they generally bought and sold properties without fully utilising them.
Dungog township was devastated when he left in 1849, and possibly to entice him to return or stay they presented him with a gold ring and a bag full of gold coins. Some years later, the townspeople wrote to him in Adelaide urging him to return to Dungog.
It was 10 years before Dr. McKinlay returned to Dungog, but when he did return, he never left the people of Dungog again.
Aged 43 he potentially could have settled down, he was tall at 6'2" (a McKinlay trait), good looking and community minded, but he stayed married to his roles within Dungog community.
He lived in a house called "The Hermitage" near Bennett Bridge, and whilst it was for a time used as the Anglican Rectory, it has not survived. Bushrangers apparently tried unsuccessfully to steal his horde of Scottish Silverware which he kept on display; and which it is rumoured to have been distributed amongst his Dungog friends on his death (his Silverware does not appear in the Probate Inventory).
Dr. McKinlay had several run-ins with bushrangers over the years.
In April 1873, Mr. George MacKay Esq. JP presented Dr. McKinlay with a horse and buggy and equipment, along with cash from subscriptions collected from the community.
By all accounts Dr. McKinlay was a warm hearted and kind man providing care for anyone who needed it with no charge to the poor.
A previous buggy accident had left Dr. McKinlay with a lame leg and he walked with a stick. Having his own transport as the town grew would have been a nice gift.
As Government Vaccine and Medical Officer in 1880 (aged 64) Dr. McKinlay judged and examined four types of corn flours announcing to all that as far as he was concerned "Wade's Flour was by far superior to the rest."
By all accounts Dr. McKinlay was a warm hearted and kind man providing care for anyone who needed it with no charge to the poor.
He was active in the Presbyterian Church, and did what he could to better the facilities and services for the whole community including acting as Coroner for a period, accepting an appointment as Magistrate in 1844, and being the Judge for the Dungog Spring Races in 1862.
Babies were named after him including baby Ella McKinlay Cameron (b. 1880), John McKinlay Hooke (b. 1875), and Octavius McKinlay Smith (b. 1879).
Dr. McKinlay was a resident of Dungog for over thirty years. In his final years he was living in the Redman Boarding House. On 12th November 1889 whilst out for an afternoon walk, he tripped on the verandah steps (his lame leg causing the fall) at the Settler's Arms, fell heavily, and hit his head on a rock. Dying of 'concussion of the brain' on 14th November 1889.
The informant was Joseph Robson, Inn Keeper; Settler's Arms.
Dr. McKinlay's Last Will and Testament was drawn up on 23rd November 1885. Probate was granted to the sole executor Mr. George MacKay Esq. and proved on 10th April 1890. His Estate was valued at nearly 700 pounds.
Will of Ellar McKellar McKinlay of Dungog
Dated 23rd November 1885
This is the last Will and Testament, of me, Ellar McKellar McKinlay of Dungog, in the County of Durham, Colony of New South Wales, Surgeon.
After payment of all my just debts, funeral and Testamentary expenses; I give, devise, and bequeath unto Mrs. Samuel Redman (1821-1897), my kind housekeeper, ten pounds Stirling; to Miss Jane Hanna (1837-1907, never married), daughter of Mr. Thomas Hanna (Postmaster from 1840), Dungog - who has been very kind to me, ten pounds Sterling; to the Committee of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Dungog ten pounds Sterling, for general purposes; to my dear niece Mary McKinlay Hunter (1862-1916, never married), youngest daughter of Robert Hunter Esq. of 19 McFarlane St Glasgow, the balance of moneys that may be of my credit, in the Commercial Bank, of Dungog, at my decease, for her own use and benefit. And I hereby appoint George McKay Esq. of Melbee, Executor of this my Will, without the slightest interference, or restriction. As written my hand this 23rd day of November 1885.
Signed and acknowledged by the said Ellar McKellar McKinlay the Testator, and for his last Will and Testament, in the presence of us, being present at the same time, who, at his request in his presence, and in the presence of each other, have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses.
Ellar McKinlay (signature) William O Skillen (signature) Lewis Duesbury (signature)
All of Dr. McKinlay's brothers predeceased him in Australia, and there are no recorded nieces or nephews in Australia.
He left the balance of his Estate to his niece, Mary McKinlay Hunter (his sister's youngest child residing in Scotland). Mr. George MacKay organised his funeral, headstone and ornamental metal fence surrounding his resting place which was well attended by the people of Dungog. Whilst difficult to read now, the headstone is in good order and has been cared for on and off over the years.
When Mrs. S. J. Hooke (Dingadee) died her Estate contained a photo of Dr. McKinlay and it was subsequently donated to the Dungog Municipality; and now hangs in the Dungog Museum.
Written by Lesley Thompson. Research resources include Dungog Chronicle, South Australia Archives, Scottish Records Online and probate records. Contact: dungoghistory@gmail.com or the Facebook page "Dungog Past, Present and Future"
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