Christine MacKenzie

Signed family name

MacKenzie

Signed given name

Christine

Given address

Princes St

Sheet number

Town/Suburb

Central Dunedin

City/Region

Dunedin

Notes

Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley

Christine Mary Margaret Mackenzie was born on 13 July 1856 in Midlothian, Scotland – the daughter of John Reid MacKenzie, the General Manager of the New Zealand Banking Corporation, and MacKenzie Morrison.

In 1863 the family sailed for Otago on the General Windham and settled in Dunedin.

In 1890 Christine was running the 'Art Exchange' in the Octagon which sold 'varied novelties' including pottery, embroidery, fancy work and stationery.

The business had moved to 7 Princes Street by the time Christine signed the suffrage petition.

In 1904 she 'had a most enjoyable trip on the Continent and through the Highlands of Scotland.' She also visited Rome, Florence, Venice, Switzerland and Paris.

In 1909 she travelled again to England with her sister via Canada and, in 1911 she enjoyed another trip to the continent accompanied by her two sisters.

Christine died in Dunedin on 4 August 1927 – she is buried in the family grave in the Northern Cemetery.

In her will Christine left money to St Paul’s Cathedral in Dunedin for a stained glass window 'in remembrance of her father, brothers, and sisters.'

She also left a bequest to set up a trust fund 'for such indigent and need ladies of the age of fifty years and over in and around the Dunedin District.'