History: Who were the McGinns?

KENILWORTH MUSEUM HISTORY

WHO WERE THE McGINNS?

In the district the name McGinn is on a road and on the well-known restaurant.

Who were the McGinns of Kenilworth?

The two who settled in Kenilworth – John and Alex – were the sons of John and Sarah McGinn (nee McCullough) who migrated from Ireland and lived in what was then known as Upper Kedron now Mitchelton, Enoggera and Ferny Grove.

John McGinn was one of the three selectors who came to the district in 1891, taking up Fig Tree Farm (Lot 28v on the map).

John McGinn married Maria (Rye) Pickering on 12 April 1893. They had nine children:-

• Ethel Hannah (Essie) married Edward Loweke on 30 April 1919.

• Alice Jane married Francis Charles (Charlie) Lowrey on 21 December 1921.

• Edith Mary married Albert Loweke on 23 April 1924.

• John Victor married Annie Agnes (Nancy) Myers on 1 September 1932.

• Benjamin Percy married Frances Cummings on 27 February 1937.

• Elsie Sarah married John (Jack) Watt on 4 November 1939.

• Ruby Annie.

• Arthur Alfred.

• Maria McGinn – who passed from this life along with her mother on 1 July 1911. John’s brother Alex McGinn took up land on Moy Pocket Road in 1894 (Lot 23v on the map) and named his farm Riverview.

Alex McGinn married Minnie Gordon on

• Stewart Alexander married Dorothy Blanche Groves on 24 January 1928.

• Morton Harold married Alice Mary Walters – 25 October 1930.

• Norman Harry married Elsie Claire Ginn – 14 March 1931.

• Allan Gordon married Mabel Noble – 24 January 1931.

• Elva Mary married William James Wauchope Stewart – 17 February 1934.

• Pearl Jane married Herbert Leslie Hawkins – 6 October 1934.

Both brothers were the foundation members of a number of local committees including the Kenilworth Provisional School Committee, the Kenilworth Farmers Association, and the Kenilworth Farmers Association Assembly Hall Committee.

Both retired into the township of Kenilworth – Alex in 1930 and John in 1937. Alex and Minnie’s home (11 Elizabeth Street) is now Nanna McGinns restaurant and John’s home still stands beside Kenilworth Rural Supplies.

McGinn Road was so named because Allan McGinn – son of Alex – was a long time resident on that road.

- Come along to the Kenilworth Museum in Alexandra Street any Sunday 10am-2pm and view the video of the local procession held on Coronation Day, 1953.

Lenore Meldrum, President Kenilworth & District Hist. Assn Inc.

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Community Notice, please join us for the

Annual General Meeting of the

KENILWORTH & DISTRICT HISTORICAL ASSN INC.

Monday 25 July, 2022 at 10am

In the Research Room, Blair Meldrum House Kenilworth Museum, Alexandra Street

RAINFALL MOY POCKET – JUNE 2022 by Graham Brennan

June 2022 13mm. Driest June since 2010 9mm. Last June 32mm. 21 year average June 68mm. Rain fell on two days, average 10 days. Total rain first six months 1958mm. Previous wettest January-June 2013 1233mm. Same period last year 562mm. Average January-June 784mm. 12 month total end of June 2558mm. 20 year annual average 1196mm.