James Hood 'Hamish' McKechnie
12 December 1889 – 29 September 1975
Son of Charles Cameron McKechnie and Annie Freia Smith
Brother of Cameron McKechnie
Husband of Gladys Robina Jean Rockwell
Father of Joan Freia McKechnie, Charles Bruce McKechnie, Winifred Betty McKechnie
James Hood McKechnie was born on Thursday, 12 December 1889 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. However, James was known as ‘Hamish’ throughout most of his life.
McKechnie family about 1898: Charles Cameron McKechnie (father), Cameron McKechnie (brother), Hamish McKechnie, Annie Freia Smith (mother)
According to Australian electoral rolls, in 1913 Hamish was living with his mother at 61 Barker Street, New Farm, Queensland, Australia.
Location map in 2021 Home is now a block of apartments
On Friday, 15 September 1916 Hamish married Gladys Robina Jean Rockwell at St Andrews’s Presbyterian Church on the corner of Maryborough and Woongarra Streets, Kalkie, Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia.
Hamish’s mother, Annie Freia Smith, kept newspaper clippings and wrote notes in her Autograph Book about Hamish and significant events in his life.
This is an extended family picture taken at The Swiss Studios in Melbourne. The Swiss Studios opened in Bourke Street, Melbourne, in September 1900 and remained in business until 1920.
Hamish is top row, 2nd from the left. It is assumed his mother, Annie Freia Smith, is bottom row, third from the left with his wife, Gladys, far right on the bottom row
According to Australian electoral rolls, Hamish was a salesman for most of his working life. Hamish and Gladys often called the home they were living in “Gladwyn”. In 1919 he lived at “Gladwyn” Vulture Street East, Brisbane, Queensland Australia.
Hamish, Gladys, Joan and Betty about 1919 at Vulture Street
Joan, Hamish and Betty about 1921 at Vulture Street
In 1922 Hamish and Gladys were living at “Ashleigh” Longland Street, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. According to Australian electoral rolls they then lived at “Gladwyn” Ridge Street, Dunellan, Queensland, Australia from about 1925 to at least 1937.
Hamish, Betty and Joan about 1924
View from the veranda at Ridge Street at the time Hamish lived there
Hamish and his family enjoyed many family holidays, usually with extended family.
Hamish fishing at Butcher’s Rock, Burnett Heads, Queensland, Australia about 1926
Standing: Jean Ann Dallas (mother-in-law), Alexander Gordon Roy Rockwell (brother-in-law), Gladys Robina Jean Rockwell, Winifred Jessie Dallas Rockwell (sister-in-law)
Sitting: Joseph Rockwell (brother-in-law), Horace James Rockwell (Father-in-law)
Hamish’s Children: Joan Freia McKechnie, Winifred Betty McKechnie, Charles Bruce McKechnie
Butcher’s Rocks, Burnett Heads, Queensland, Australia about 1926
The beach at Redcliffe about 1930
Gladys, Hamish, Charles and Joan at Redcliffe about 1930
Hamish with his children Joan, Betty and Charles at Redcliffe about 1930
Articles about Hamish in the newspaper in 1932 and 1933
Later in life Hamish continued to enjoy sports such as Lawn Bowls. Hamish is pictures bottom row, far left in the 1970s
Hamish and Gladys then moved to “Gladwyn” 10 Boronia Avenue, Holland Park, Queensland, Australia (recorded between 1943 and 1963) until they moved to New South Wales. During their time in Queensland, Hamish and Gladys raised their three children Joan Freia McKechnie, Charles Bruce McKechnie and Winifred Betty McKechnie.
Gladys, Betty and Hamish at Baronia Avenue in 1942
10 Baronia Avenue in the 1940s
10 Boronia Avenue taken in 2021
During 1945, Hamish was quoted in newspapers about his son, Charles Bruce McKechnie, who was serving as a bombardier with Queensland's 2/10th Field Regiment during World War II.
According to Australian electoral rolls, Hamish lived at 404 Percy Street, Albury, New South Wales, Australia between 1968 and 1972. He lived there with his wife, Gladys, and his daughter Joan.
Hamish and Gladys
Hamish died on Monday, 29 September 1975 aged 85. He was buried on Wednesday, 1 October 1975. He can be found at Glenmorus Memorial Garden, Plan 5, Section 5, Rose Garden Bed A, Lot 76, Albany, New South Wales, Australia.
Sources:
Births, Marriages and Deaths Queensland, Registration details: 1890/B/44984
Australian Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980, Queensland, Division Brisbane, Subdivision Fortitude Valley, 1913 page 128
Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980, Queensland, Division Oxley, Subdivision Woolloongabba, 1919 page 64
Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980, Queensland, Division Oxley, Subdivision Buranda, 1922 page 62
Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980, Queensland, Division Moreton, Subdivision Coorparoo, 1925 page 80
Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980, Queensland, Division Griffiths, Subdivision Coorparoo, 1934 page 101 & 1937 page 11
Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980, Queensland, Division Moreton, Subdivision Mount Gravatt, 1943 page 44, 1949 page 90 & 1954 page 157
Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980, Queensland, Division Moreton, Subdivision Salisbury, 1958 page 109 & 1963 page 145
Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980, New South Wales, Division Farrer, Subdivision Albury, 1968 page 75 & 1972 page 20
Bundaberg Mail and Burnett Advertiser (Qld. 1892 - 1917), Wednesday 27 September 1916, page 2
Bundaberg Mail and Burnett Advertiser (Qld. 1892 - 1917), Wednesday 27 September 1916, page 3
Births, Marriages and Deaths Queensland, Registration details: 1916/C/1927
Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. 1872 - 1947), Wednesday 21 September 1932, page 3
Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. 1872 - 1947), Thursday 17 August 1933, page 11
Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. 1933 - 1954), Tuesday 13 February 1945, page 4
Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. 1933 - 1954), Tuesday 20 March 1945, page 3
Births, Marriages and Deaths New South Wales, Registration details: 28993/1975
