Mayne family

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Type of entity

Family

Authorized form of name

Mayne family

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Description area

Dates of existence

1823-

History

Patrick Mayne (ca. 1823-1865) was an Irish-born butcher, businessman and alderman. After migrating to Australia in 1841, he established a successful butchery and expanded into property and finance. On 9 April 1849, he married Mary McIntosh (ca. 1826-1889), who had migrated from Ireland to Australia in 1842. The couple had five children, including Mary Emilia Mayne (1858-1940) and James O'Neil Mayne (1861-1939).

Patrick Mayne died on 17 August 1865 in Brisbane, leaving a substantial estate. His wife, Mary, took over the family business, effectively managing their assets and expanding their landholdings, including acquiring Moorlands at Auchenflower as the family home. She died on 4 September 1889.

None of the Mayne children married. James O'Neil Mayne studied medicine and worked as a resident medical officer, later becoming medical superintendent at Brisbane General Hospital. He and his older sister, Mary Emilia Mayne, became renowned philanthropists. They were among the first and most significant benefactors of The University of Queensland, donating 280 hectares of farmland at Pinjarra Hills for agricultural education in 1923. In 1926, they contributed £63,000 to acquire over 81 hectares at St Lucia, enabling the University's relocation to its current site.

James died in 1939, and Mary in 1940. James's estate was valued at £113,334 for probate, and Mary's at £83,375. Their primary assets included the Brisbane Arcade, Moorlands, and the Regent building. Both had identical wills, ensuring their estates would be used to support The University of Queensland Medical School in perpetuity.

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Authority record identifier

AU QU

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Status

Revised

Level of detail

Dates of creation, revision and deletion

Revised, Kymberley Doyle, 12-Feb-2025.

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Script(s)

Sources

Crouchley, B. (1986). 'Mayne, Mary Emelia (1858–1940)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, accessed online 13-Feb-2025.

Crouchley, B. (1986). 'Mayne, James O'Neil (1861–1939)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, accessed online 13-Feb-2025.

Turner, B. (2005). 'Mayne, Patrick (1824–1865)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, accessed online 13-Feb-2025.

Turner, B. (2005). 'Mayne, Mary (1826–1889)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, accessed online 13-Feb-2025.

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