Alexander McGeorge
Alexander McGeorge | |
|---|---|
McGeorge, c. 1936 | |
| Born | Alexander Crow McGeorge 4 August 1868 Dunedin, New Zealand |
| Died | 14 January 1953 (aged 84) Karitane, New Zealand |
| Other names | Alec McGeorge |
| Known for | Gold dredging |
| Relatives | Jeremy Moon (great-grandson) |
Alexander Crow McGeorge (4 August 1868 – 14 January 1953) was a New Zealand engineer and gold dredging entrepreneur, contributing to the Otago gold rush of the 1890s.
Biography
McGeorge was born in Dunedin on 4 August 1868 to Scottish parents, James McGeorge and Isabella Crow.[1] McGeorge, along with his brothers John Crow and Joseph founded the Electric Gold Dredging Company in 1895, one of the most successful gold-dredging companies in New Zealand.[2]
McGeorge's mother, Isabella Crow, and sister, Jane, were both signatories of the 1893 Women's Suffrage Petition.[3][4]
The McGeorge brothers' most famous gold dredge was the Lady Ranfurly, named by the governor of New Zealand of the day, Uchter Knox, 5th Earl of Ranfurly, after his own wife on a visit to Cromwell on 12 March 1898.[5]
McGeorge constructed the heritage residence "Kawarau", located at 204 Highgate in Dunedin. It was designed by the local architect Louis Salmond in 1900, and holds a "Historic Place Category 2" listing with Heritage New Zealand.[6]
Alex McGeorge died in Karitane on 14 January 1953.[1]
Relations
New Zealand entrepreneur Jeremy Moon is a great-grandson of McGeorge.[7]
References
- ^ a b Hearn, T. J. "Alexander Crow McGeorge". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
- ^ Houston, Lois (2011). Dredging the Past: The Life of Alex C. McGeorge. Dunedin: L. Houston. ISBN 978-0-473-13359-7.
- ^ "Mrs McGeorge | NZHistory, New Zealand history online". nzhistory.govt.nz. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
- ^ "J. McGeorge | NZHistory, New Zealand history online". nzhistory.govt.nz. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
- ^ Sinclair, Robert Sproull Menzies (1962). Kawarau Gold. Dunedin: Whitcombe and Tombs.
- ^ "Kawarau 204 Highgate, DUNEDIN, Historic Place Category 2". Heritage New Zealand | Pouhere Taonga. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
- ^ Moon, Bruce (2015). Steps: The Moon Family. Nelson: self-published.