Alexander Sinclair Gillanders
Dwelling #61 - The Coal House
Group Number 3

Group Members

The table below shows the people that make up the group.

No Last Name First Names Maiden Name Relationship Occupation Born Died School Year
1 Gillanders Alexander Sinclair Resident Mechanical engineer, Coal mine manager 1867
2 Gillanders Mary McIntosh Wife
3 Gillanders Edith McIntosh Child 10 Jun 1890 1903
4 Gillanders Ethel Child 1 Aug 1894 1902
5 Gillanders Violet Child 29 Jun 1896 1902
6 Gillanders Allan Child 18 Jan 1899 1903

Notes

The table below shows any historical notes about the party group.

Note Date Short Description Note Text
843 1867 Alexander Sinclair Gillanders was born in Edinburgh.

Alexander Sinclair Gillanders was born in Edinburgh.

844 1874 Alexander's arrival in Dunedin

Alexander Gillanders arrived in Dunedin on the last voyage of the ship Peter Denny. He was apprenticed to Kincaid & McQueen. Mr Gillanders qualified as a mechanical engineer and then spent some time working in Dunedin.

845 1891 Mr Gillanders was appointed engineer in charge of the machinery at the Shag Point Coal Company.

Mr Gillanders was appointed engineer in charge of the machinery at the Shag Point Coal Company.

846 1893 Mr Gillanders joined the Allendale Coal Company at Shag Point ands appointed to the position of engineer.

Mr Gillanders joined the Allendale Coal Company at Shag Point ands appointed to the position of engineer.

847 1893 Alexander & Jemma's marriage.

Alexander married Jemma. She was the daughter of Mr A Macintosh, the Managing Director of the Allendale Coal Company at Shag Point.

848 1896 Alexander appointed as underground foreman.

Alexander was appointed to the position of underground foreman.

849 1897 Alexander appointed as mine manager.

Upon gaining his mine managers certificate (first class by examination) Mr Gillanders was appointed as mine manager of the Allendale Mine.

850 From Shag Point Mine, Mr Gillanders moved to Clyde and worked for the Alexandra Coal Company.

From Shag Point Mine, Mr Gillanders moved to Clyde and worked for the Alexandra Coal Company.

851 1902 Late in 1902, Alexander Gillanders and his family moved to Bannockburn to take up the appointment of Manager of the Cromwell and Bannockburn Colliery Company.

Late in 1902, Alexander Gillanders and his family moved to Bannockburn to take up the appointment of Manager of the Cromwell and Bannockburn Colliery Company. The Gillanders may have owned a Clement Bayard car which is now in preservation in Invercargill

852 c1905 Alexander invents a hydraulic pump.

Mr Gillanders invented a hydraulic pump which he claimed would solve the basic problem of irrigation. A large version of his pump could lift water from the Kawarau River and irrigate the Cromwell Flats. A demonstration was held with a small pump in the Bannockburn Creek and it worked successfully. A deputation approached the Vincent County to ask that the government fund a large scale trial. However nothing was done and the idea was quickly forgotten.

853 Mr Gillanders played cricket for the Swan combined cricket team. He was also president of the Bannockburn Musical and Dramatic, Library and Debating Society for some time.

Mr Gillanders played cricket for the Swan combined cricket team. He was also president of the Bannockburn Musical and Dramatic, Library and Debating Society for some time.

854 1906 Fire in the Alexander Coal Mine

On Saturday July 14th at 3 am a fire broke out in the Alexander Coal Mining Company's mine. Four miners were trapped by the fire. The local coal miners fire brigade, dredge workers and townsfolk rushed to the mine to fight the fire. By 9.00 pm the fire was under control and an attempt to rescue the miners was underway. However all the able bodied miners were exhausted from the intense heat and black damp. Alexander Gillanders, John Hodson (1), Louis Parcell and 12 other Bannockburn coal miners from the Cromwell and Bannockburn Colliery arrived at the mine about 9.00 pm ready to help. With the help of these fresh, fit miners, the four traded men were rescued and all miners were clear of the mine by 10.0 pm.

855 1908 The Gillanders family leave the district.

On July 6th 1908 a large group of Bannockburn locals held a farewell gathering for Alexander Gillanders and his family when they left the district,

856 various Gillanders children school dates.

Edith - 15 April 1903 Ethel - 1 July 1902 Violet - 1 July 1902 Allan - 24 Nov 1903 Note - there may have been other children born after they left Bannockburn


Images

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Image Id Source Date Short Description
558 Cromwell Museum - T Emmitt c1916-1921 Motor Cars outside the Bannockburn Hotel View Image
1908 The Cyclopedia of New Zealand 1899 1899 Mr Alexander Sinclair Gillanders. View Image