University of Tasmania Library Special and Rare Materials Collection
Abstract
Frederick William Mackie (1812-1893), Quaker, son of William Aram and Sarah Mackie, accompanied Robert Lindsey (1801-1863) on a "mission of concern" for the Society of Friends (Quakers) to the Australasian colonies. They left England in July 1852 in the barque "Wellington", arrived in Hobart, Van Diemen's Land in November 1852 and later travelled to New Zealand in 1853, New South Wales (1853), V.D.L. again (1853-4), Victoria (1854), South Australia(1854), N.S.W. and Victoria again (1854), a brief third visit to V.D.L., the Victorian goldfields (1854-5) and West Australia (1855), finishing their journey in South Africa. Mackie kept a diary of his travels, illustated by little pen or pencil sketches, in small notebooks still held by the May family, descendants of the family of Mackie's wife. After the mission journey was completed in 1855 Mackie did not return toEngland but went to South Australia to marry, in May 1856, Rachel Ann May, daughter of Joseph and Hannah May of Mount Barker, South Australia. For a few years they ran a Quaker school in Hobart, but returned to South Australia in 1861