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William MacMillan and family
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TitleWilliam MacMillan and familyDescriptionWilliam MacMillan was born in Ayrshire, Scotland and was one of three brothers emigrating to New Zealand, arriving at Lyttelton in 1865 and working a team under his brother, David on the Bealey estate. Later he worked his own team, and with a cousin, took on contracting ploughing and cropping on part of the Homebush Estate.
William's next venture was as manager of Mr J.C. Wason's estate, Corwar at Barrhill. Mr Wason was a member of the House of Representatives in N.Z., but returned to England to become a member for the Orkneys in the House of Commons.
William McMillan considered buying property at Marshlands, but settled on the Methven property, Cairnbrae, in 1875. In 1881 he married Jane Boag of Burnside, and they lived at Cairnbrae, William continuing to manage the Wason Estate, Corwar. William and Jane had five children, and following Jane's death in 1889, William later married her sister, Sarah Boag with three more children added to the extended family.
Whilst in the Methven district, William had been a member of the Barrhill School Committee; the Methven Road Board, serving his time as chairman, and a member of the Ashburton County Council.
In 1890, William leased Cairnbrae and purchased the Sudeley property of around 750 acres in Irwell from the Rev. T.R. Fisher. In 1891, a further 91 acres around and including the present St Mary's Church site in Irwell was purchased, land later sold to G.E. Rhodes of Meadowbank. William Mclaughlin, the teamster at Sudeley was offered the opportunity of purchasing 82 acres from William McMillan. Along with two further land additions at a later date, makes up the farm now owned by John and Lyndsay Lay.
The year 1894 saw William McMillan's brother David, who now owned the Beechcroft property at Southbridge, serve as president of the Ellesmere A. & P. Assn. William McMillan also sold land to John Winchester of Sedgemere, 100 acres in 1904 and a further 40 acres in 1920 - property which is now owned by Murray and Marilyn Stephens. In Irwell, William McMillan was chairman of the school committee, a member of the Eilesmere Road Board, president of the Eilesmere A. & P. in 1905, president of the Leeston Bowling Club, 1905, member and chairman of the Eilesmere branch of the Farmer's Union, and a member of the board of managers of the Brookside Presbyterian Church.
William established a stud Border Leicester flock in 1905 and continued to farm until retiring to Cashmere in 1911.
His oldest son, John farmed the Methven property Cairnbrae, later moving to the Homestead, Culverden, and finally the Grange, Fernside. William daughters were Anne, involved in Red Cross and the British and Foreign Bible Society work; Agnes, trained as a Deaconess; Jane married Peter Chamberlain of Norwood; Edith married Geoffrey Parsonson of Cashmere Hills; and Winona married Harold Murray of Scargill and William Bryce who farmed at Matagourie, Culverden. William McMillan's second son, Robert Thomas leased the Sudeley property for a number of years, eventually acquiring it at auction in 1927. Previously the McMillans had purchased an adjoining block from the Meadowbank property alongside Woody Creek.
Robert Thomas served on a multitude of local bodies, devoting a lifetime to public and community work, later becoming the Hon. R.T. McMillan when elected to the Legislative Council (Upper House) in 1950. His family recall their father returning home from Parliament, frustrated by the Auckland MPs having little regard for rural issues and the value of agriculture to the New Zealand economy - little has changed!
Robert Thomas was president of the Ellesmere A. & P. in 1927; a founder director and later chairman of United Wheat Growers. He was a councillor and chairman of Ellesmere County Council; member of the domain board, the local pipe band and the Midland Club. He also served on the Lyttelton Harbour Board as a member and chairman; the Canterbury Progress League; the North Canterbury Hospital Board; and the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. He was on the Ellesmere Electric Power Board; served on the North Canterbury Provincial executive of the Farmers' Union; the North Canterbury Primary Production Council and the Ellesmere Licensing Trust.
It's interesting to note that Robert's uncle, David McMillan who was one of the original brothers to come out to New Zealand, had previously been a member of the Lyttelton Harbour Board and was, at one time, MP for Coleridge. Robert Thomas also spent a term as president of the Canterbury Park Trotting Club; and a member of the North Rakaia Board of Conservators. He was a Master of the Waihora Masonic Lodge and Director of Ceremonies of the Canterbury Provincial Lodge. He was a keen rugby football player for his Irwell club as well as a country selector and delegate to the Canterbury Sub-Union.
Robert Thomas McMillan gave half the land for the project of establishing Sudeley Park sportsground at Irwell. He never lost his love of sport and fun. His family recall how he enjoyed riding his penny farthing cycle, though he was often found in the gorse bushes as on the saddle! Machinery was his first passion, also a breeder of Clydesdales, Ryeland and English Leicester sheep, and founded his successful Southdown stud in 1927.
Robert Thomas married Marion Abbott of Little Rakaia, and had a family of five. Their two sons Alister and Donald took on the Sudeley property in the 1960s, now totalling 660 acres. Donald became widely known as one of the foremost Southdown breeders, also giving service to rugby as an administrator and player, a member of the Canterbury team in 1956 when the Ranfurly Shield was at stake. Alister McMillan farmed the homestead block of Sudeley, breeding Dorset Down and South Dorset Down sheep. He was also involved in rugby and cricket, especially the Rugby Referee's Association. Alister was a foundation member of the Ellesmere Jaycee Chapter and convenor of the location map project. He was chairman of the Young Farmers' Club and Federated Farmers; a member and chairman of the Ellesmere Domain Board and a charter member of the Lincoln Rotary Club.
In 1976 Alister and Diana McMillan sold Sudeley to Case and Judy Van der Wilt. Alister then farmed in the Hawarden district, and in recent years retired and returned to Leeston. In the 1980s, Sudeley was then sold to Donald and Diana Cameron, who brought with them the renowned Claymore Romney Stud, and established a second stud, Sudeley Romneys. After the death of Donald Cameron, his wife Diana continues to farm Sudeley, specialising in Poll Dorset sheep. As referred to in the opening paragraph of this article, it's interesting to note the link to William McMillan and his wife Jane Boag, second wife Sarah Boag and Sudeley has never been broken. Diana Cameron is a great-niece of William McMillan, her grandmother a sister of Jane and Sarah Boag. Judy Van der Wilt's nephew is married to Wendy Bowker, also a great-niece of William McMillan and cousin to Diana Cameron.
William McMillan's great-grandson, Andrew McMillan, son of Donald, farms the property Locaber which was part of Sudeley. Other greatgrandsons are Stuart McLachlan who farms The Rowans property between Leeston and Southbridge, and Peter Chamberlain farming at Norwood."Sallachan", near Ballantrae, Stinchar Valley, South Ayrshire, Scotland. The home of brothers William David and John McMillan before emigrating to New Zealand. A second storey has been added in later times to the homestead.
William's next venture was as manager of Mr J.C. Wason's estate, Corwar at Barrhill. Mr Wason was a member of the House of Representatives in N.Z., but returned to England to become a member for the Orkneys in the House of Commons.
William McMillan considered buying property at Marshlands, but settled on the Methven property, Cairnbrae, in 1875. In 1881 he married Jane Boag of Burnside, and they lived at Cairnbrae, William continuing to manage the Wason Estate, Corwar. William and Jane had five children, and following Jane's death in 1889, William later married her sister, Sarah Boag with three more children added to the extended family.
Whilst in the Methven district, William had been a member of the Barrhill School Committee; the Methven Road Board, serving his time as chairman, and a member of the Ashburton County Council.
In 1890, William leased Cairnbrae and purchased the Sudeley property of around 750 acres in Irwell from the Rev. T.R. Fisher. In 1891, a further 91 acres around and including the present St Mary's Church site in Irwell was purchased, land later sold to G.E. Rhodes of Meadowbank. William Mclaughlin, the teamster at Sudeley was offered the opportunity of purchasing 82 acres from William McMillan. Along with two further land additions at a later date, makes up the farm now owned by John and Lyndsay Lay.
The year 1894 saw William McMillan's brother David, who now owned the Beechcroft property at Southbridge, serve as president of the Ellesmere A. & P. Assn. William McMillan also sold land to John Winchester of Sedgemere, 100 acres in 1904 and a further 40 acres in 1920 - property which is now owned by Murray and Marilyn Stephens. In Irwell, William McMillan was chairman of the school committee, a member of the Eilesmere Road Board, president of the Eilesmere A. & P. in 1905, president of the Leeston Bowling Club, 1905, member and chairman of the Eilesmere branch of the Farmer's Union, and a member of the board of managers of the Brookside Presbyterian Church.
William established a stud Border Leicester flock in 1905 and continued to farm until retiring to Cashmere in 1911.
His oldest son, John farmed the Methven property Cairnbrae, later moving to the Homestead, Culverden, and finally the Grange, Fernside. William daughters were Anne, involved in Red Cross and the British and Foreign Bible Society work; Agnes, trained as a Deaconess; Jane married Peter Chamberlain of Norwood; Edith married Geoffrey Parsonson of Cashmere Hills; and Winona married Harold Murray of Scargill and William Bryce who farmed at Matagourie, Culverden. William McMillan's second son, Robert Thomas leased the Sudeley property for a number of years, eventually acquiring it at auction in 1927. Previously the McMillans had purchased an adjoining block from the Meadowbank property alongside Woody Creek.
Robert Thomas served on a multitude of local bodies, devoting a lifetime to public and community work, later becoming the Hon. R.T. McMillan when elected to the Legislative Council (Upper House) in 1950. His family recall their father returning home from Parliament, frustrated by the Auckland MPs having little regard for rural issues and the value of agriculture to the New Zealand economy - little has changed!
Robert Thomas was president of the Ellesmere A. & P. in 1927; a founder director and later chairman of United Wheat Growers. He was a councillor and chairman of Ellesmere County Council; member of the domain board, the local pipe band and the Midland Club. He also served on the Lyttelton Harbour Board as a member and chairman; the Canterbury Progress League; the North Canterbury Hospital Board; and the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. He was on the Ellesmere Electric Power Board; served on the North Canterbury Provincial executive of the Farmers' Union; the North Canterbury Primary Production Council and the Ellesmere Licensing Trust.
It's interesting to note that Robert's uncle, David McMillan who was one of the original brothers to come out to New Zealand, had previously been a member of the Lyttelton Harbour Board and was, at one time, MP for Coleridge. Robert Thomas also spent a term as president of the Canterbury Park Trotting Club; and a member of the North Rakaia Board of Conservators. He was a Master of the Waihora Masonic Lodge and Director of Ceremonies of the Canterbury Provincial Lodge. He was a keen rugby football player for his Irwell club as well as a country selector and delegate to the Canterbury Sub-Union.
Robert Thomas McMillan gave half the land for the project of establishing Sudeley Park sportsground at Irwell. He never lost his love of sport and fun. His family recall how he enjoyed riding his penny farthing cycle, though he was often found in the gorse bushes as on the saddle! Machinery was his first passion, also a breeder of Clydesdales, Ryeland and English Leicester sheep, and founded his successful Southdown stud in 1927.
Robert Thomas married Marion Abbott of Little Rakaia, and had a family of five. Their two sons Alister and Donald took on the Sudeley property in the 1960s, now totalling 660 acres. Donald became widely known as one of the foremost Southdown breeders, also giving service to rugby as an administrator and player, a member of the Canterbury team in 1956 when the Ranfurly Shield was at stake. Alister McMillan farmed the homestead block of Sudeley, breeding Dorset Down and South Dorset Down sheep. He was also involved in rugby and cricket, especially the Rugby Referee's Association. Alister was a foundation member of the Ellesmere Jaycee Chapter and convenor of the location map project. He was chairman of the Young Farmers' Club and Federated Farmers; a member and chairman of the Ellesmere Domain Board and a charter member of the Lincoln Rotary Club.
In 1976 Alister and Diana McMillan sold Sudeley to Case and Judy Van der Wilt. Alister then farmed in the Hawarden district, and in recent years retired and returned to Leeston. In the 1980s, Sudeley was then sold to Donald and Diana Cameron, who brought with them the renowned Claymore Romney Stud, and established a second stud, Sudeley Romneys. After the death of Donald Cameron, his wife Diana continues to farm Sudeley, specialising in Poll Dorset sheep. As referred to in the opening paragraph of this article, it's interesting to note the link to William McMillan and his wife Jane Boag, second wife Sarah Boag and Sudeley has never been broken. Diana Cameron is a great-niece of William McMillan, her grandmother a sister of Jane and Sarah Boag. Judy Van der Wilt's nephew is married to Wendy Bowker, also a great-niece of William McMillan and cousin to Diana Cameron.
William McMillan's great-grandson, Andrew McMillan, son of Donald, farms the property Locaber which was part of Sudeley. Other greatgrandsons are Stuart McLachlan who farms The Rowans property between Leeston and Southbridge, and Peter Chamberlain farming at Norwood."Sallachan", near Ballantrae, Stinchar Valley, South Ayrshire, Scotland. The home of brothers William David and John McMillan before emigrating to New Zealand. A second storey has been added in later times to the homestead.
Connections
PlaceIrwell
William MacMillan and family. Selwyn Stories, accessed 13/12/2025, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/552
