Donald Mackinnon

Who was Donald Mackinnon?

Donald Mackinnon was an Australian politician.

Born at Marida Yallock near Boorcan in Victoria to grazier David Mackinnon and Jane Kinross, both Scottish-born, he was educated at Geelong Grammar School, Melbourne University and New College, Oxford, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts. In 1883 he was called to the English Bar, returning to Victoria to repeat the achievement in 1884. At his father's death in 1889 he took over the family property, and also acquired grazing property in New South Wales and Queensland. On 19 August 1891 he married Hilda Eleanor Marie Bunny, sister of the artist Rupert Bunny; they had five children. In 1900 he was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly as the Liberal member for Prahran, serving as party leader from 1904 to 1907. He was defeated in 1920. Mackinnon's son Dan was a member of the Australian House of Representatives, and his grandson Donald James was also a Victorian state MP. Mackinnon died in 1932 at Toorak.