Sir Lauchlan C Mackinnon
Victoria
Sir Lauchlan Charles Mackinnon (1848-1925) was a strong supporter of the Australian Henley regatta in Melbourne during it's formation years. He was one of the original members of the Melbourne Amateur Regatta Committee and trustee of their challenge cups. He was their unofficial Vice-President. He and wife always entertained their guests on their our substantial house boat at this regatta.
In his professional life he was the co-proprietor and manager of The Argus and Australasian newspapers. The coverage of the Australian Henley regatta in both papers was excellent.
Geoffrey Serle in his Australian Dictionary of Biography entry on Mackinnon stated: During his thirty-nine years as general manager, Mackinnon was a key Establishment figure, preserving the Argus as a rigidly conservative organ and developing a highly profitable enterprise; in his time circulation grew from 11,000 to 123,000.
And later: Engrossed in his work, Mackinnon had few outside interests. He was a devout member of Scots Church, and belonged to the Melbourne Club (president, 1903), Australian (Melbourne) and Reform (London) clubs. He was a founder of the (Royal) Melbourne Golf Club and occasionally enjoyed shooting.
Andrew Guerin
January 2025
Sources
- Geoffrey Serle, 'Mackinnon, Lauchlan (1877–1934)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/mackinnon-lauchlan-7771/text12865, published first in hardcopy 1986, accessed online 25 January 2025.
- Melbourne Amateur Regatta Association annual reports - available at: https://www.rowinghistory-aus.info/australian-henley-regatta/appendix-b