Donald George Mackay
Encyclopedia
Donald George Mackay was an Australian outdoorsman, long-distance cyclist, and explorer who conducted several expeditions to the remotest areas of the Australian continent.
, son of Alexander Mackay, owner of Wallendbeen station, and his wife Annie. Mackay 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 Mackay travelled extensively abroad, and later prospected for gold in western New South Wales.
Though Frank White had to abandon the attempt due to mechanical problems, Alex White and Donald Mackay successfully completed the circuit of the Australian continent and returned to Brisbane in March 1900. Though he came in third behind Alex White and Arthur Richardson
, he set a record-breaking time of 240 days after an 11,500 mile (17,703 km) ride. On 27 June, Mackay was given a silver presentation trophy valued at 26 guineas (£27 6s) by the Dunlop Tyre Company "in recognition of his meritorious cycle ride around Australia."
, Sydney. Their home at Port Hacking
was on an estuary, facilitating the couple's love of fishing and sailing. Mackay 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 Mackay financed and accompanied the first of several expeditions to Australia's Northern Territory. During the first expedition, which utilized camel transport, Mackay accompanied anthropologist Dr Herbert Basedow to the Petermann Ranges
. In 1928 they explored Arnhem Land
.
Beginning in 1930, Mackay supervised several aerial survey expeditions to Central Australia. The 1930 expedition surveyed the Southwestern corner of the Northern Territory. Mackay utilized two ANEC III aircraft for the survey, piloted by Captain Frank Neale and Captain H. B. Hussey, with Commander Harry T. Bennett as the navigator and surveyor. The team made 15 survey flights over 24 days, mapping and correcting the dimensions of Lake Amadeus
and finding a previously unknown lake (Lake Mackay
), today the second largest lake in Australia. The expedition finished at Adelaide
on 28 June 1930.
Donald Mackay would later lead successive mapping expeditions in 1933, 1935, and 1937, all using aircraft to complete the surveys. These surveys produced far more useful maps than had previously existed, which were donated to the Commonwealth government and to the Mitchell Library in Sydney.
Mackay died on 17 September 1958 in Sutherland Shire Hospital near Sydney. A widower, he had no children.
Early life
Donald George Mackay was born on 29 June 1870 at Yass, New South WalesYass, New South Wales
Yass is a town in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia in Yass Valley Shire. The name appears to have been derived from an Aboriginal word, "Yarrh" , said to mean 'running water'....
, son of Alexander Mackay, owner of Wallendbeen station, and his wife Annie. Mackay 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 Mackay travelled extensively abroad, and later prospected for gold in western New South Wales.
Cycling Expedition Around Australia
In July 1899 Mackay belatedly joined brothers Alex and Frank White to become the first men to circumnavigate the continent of Australia on a bicyle. Mackay’s 24-in. frame, 29 lb. DUX bicycle was especially strengthened to carry Mackay’s 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.Though Frank White had to abandon the attempt due to mechanical problems, Alex White and Donald Mackay successfully completed the circuit of the Australian continent and returned to Brisbane in March 1900. Though he came in third behind Alex White and Arthur Richardson
Arthur Charles Jeston Richardson
Arthur Charles Jeston Richardson , an Australian cyclist and mining engineer, became the first person to circumnavigate the continent of Australia on a bicycle.-Early life and career:...
, he set a record-breaking time of 240 days after an 11,500 mile (17,703 km) ride. On 27 June, Mackay was given a silver presentation trophy valued at 26 guineas (£27 6s) by the Dunlop Tyre Company "in recognition of his meritorious cycle ride around Australia."
Later Explorations
Mackay married Amy Isabel Little on 16 April 1902 at HomebushHomebush, New South Wales
Homebush is an inner western suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Homebush is located 15 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Municipality of Strathfield. Homebush West and Homebush Bay are separate suburbs...
, Sydney. Their home at Port Hacking
Port Hacking
Port Hacking is an Australian estuary, located in Southern Sydney, New South Wales and fed by the Hacking River and several smaller creeks, including Bundeena Creek and The Basin. It is a ria, a river basin which has become submerged by the sea...
was on an estuary, facilitating the couple's love of fishing and sailing. Mackay 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
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and the Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
.
In 1926 Mackay financed and accompanied the first of several expeditions to Australia's Northern Territory. During the first expedition, which utilized camel transport, Mackay accompanied anthropologist Dr Herbert Basedow to the Petermann Ranges
Petermann Ranges
The Petermann Ranges are a number of associated mountain ranges including the Ostliche Petermann, Mittlere Petermann, Westliche Petermann, Südliche Petermann, and Pieck Ranges, located just east of the Humboldt Mountains in the central Wohlthat Mountains of Queen Maud Land. They were discovered and...
. In 1928 they explored Arnhem Land
Arnhem Land
The Arnhem Land Region is one of the five regions of the Northern Territory of Australia. It is located in the north-eastern corner of the territory and is around 500 km from the territory capital Darwin. The region has an area of 97,000 km² which also covers the area of Kakadu National...
.
Beginning in 1930, Mackay supervised several aerial survey expeditions to Central Australia. The 1930 expedition surveyed the Southwestern corner of the Northern Territory. Mackay utilized two ANEC III aircraft for the survey, piloted by Captain Frank Neale and Captain H. B. Hussey, with Commander Harry T. Bennett as the navigator and surveyor. The team made 15 survey flights over 24 days, mapping and correcting the dimensions of Lake Amadeus
Lake Amadeus
Lake Amadeus is a huge salt lake in the southwest corner of Australia's Northern Territory, about 50 km north of .-Physical features and nearby landmarks:...
and finding a previously unknown lake (Lake Mackay
Lake Mackay
Lake Mackay is the largest of hundreds of ephemeral salt lakes scattered throughout Western Australia and the Northern Territory....
), today the second largest lake in Australia. The expedition finished at Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
on 28 June 1930.
Donald Mackay would later lead successive mapping expeditions in 1933, 1935, and 1937, all using aircraft to complete the surveys. These surveys produced far more useful maps than had previously existed, which were donated to the Commonwealth government and to the Mitchell Library in Sydney.
Later career
Mackay was appointed an O.B.E. in 1934 and a C.B.E. in 1937. He received recognition from the Australian public as a pioneering Australian explorer, whose travels significantly increased man's knowledge of remote areas.Mackay died on 17 September 1958 in Sutherland Shire Hospital near Sydney. A widower, he had no children.