Mary and William McKinlay with Hugh and Ralph; seated Norman and Myra

WILLIAM MCKINLAY (b: 1874 Dunedin son of Robert and Eileen McKinley; d: 10 Jul 1941 at his residence 2 Roxburgh St, Dunedin aged 67Y) mar: MARY CUNNINGHAM in 1901, the daughter of WILLIAM CUNNINGHAM and JANE nee CAMERON. Mary was b: 20 Dec 1872 at Green Island, and d: 27 Jun 1960 in Dunedin.

When the Scotsman Robert McKinlay arrived in Dunedin in 1870, he had never before handled a piece of leather. But Robert was prepared “to do anything, as every person landing on these shores [should be] prepared to do”, so he got in touch with an old mate and landed a job cutting out soles at his shoe factory.

Robert “applied himself with utmost diligence to mastering the trade”, according to the Otago Daily Times, and in 1879, he branched out with his own footwear business, McKinlays.

More than 130 years later, McKinlays still makes shoes in Dunedin – between 130 and 160 pairs a day – and the business is now run by fifth-generation McKinlays, brothers Graeme and David. They’ve got customers in more than ten countries as well as at home, and they reckon the company’s longevity is due to the quality of their shoes – all of which can be sent back for resoling once they’re worn through. (Src: ODT)

Their children are;

1. MYRA WALKER MCKINLAY (b: 9 Jan 1903; d: 1972) She mar: 1928 to LESLIE INNES BROWSE GILBERD (b: 1904 to parents William James Thomas and Emma Gilberd)

Children of MYRA MCKINLAY and LESLIE GILBERD are:

2. NORMAN DUNCAN MCKINLAY (b: 13 October 1905; d: 1985). He mar: 1935 DORIS MAUD AGNES WHEATLY (b: 16 Apr 1907; d: 1981)

Children of NORMAN MCKINLAY and DORIS WHEATLY are:

3. HUGH OWEN MCKINLAY (b: 16 May 1907; d: 1973) He mar: DORIS CHRISTINA GILLIESON PATERSON (b: 29 June 1913; d: 1995)

Children of HUGH MCKINLAY and DORIS PATERSON are:

4. RALPH GORDON MCKINLAY (b: 20 Oct 1908; d: 1988) He mar: 1942 to NANCY RUTH CLIBBORN (b: 14 Oct 1909; d: 2003)

Children of RALPH MCKINLAY and NANCY CLIBBORN are: