Quintin McKinnon

Who was Quintin McKinnon?

Quintin McPherson McKinnon, was a New Zealand explorer and tour guide.

McKinnon was born in Argyllshire, Scotland and emigrated to New Zealand sometime in the 1870s. In 1879 he married Barbara Sinclair in Dunedin. They had two sons Quintin Gillies McKinnon and Robert Daniel McKinnon. Although he spelt his name Quintin McKinnon, he is also referred to in both official documents and newspaper reports variously as Quintin, Quinton, MacKinnon, Mackinnon and McKinnon.

McKinnon explored the central and west coast of the South Island of New Zealand. His name has been applied to various landmarks and geographical features in the Milford and Fiordland area including Mackinnon Pass, Lake Mackinnon, the Quintin Huts on Milford Track, and the St. Quintin Falls in Clinton Valley.

In 1887 McKinnon was employed by the Otago Survey Department to try and find a tourist route into Milford Sound. He was unsuccessful in this first attempt but hopeful that a pass could be discovered. In 1888 the Otago Survey Department again employed McKinnon, this time with Ernest Mitchell. They were instructed to cut a track up the river and to find a pass while C.W. Adams, the chief surveyor, took a party to survey the country fringing Milford Sound. Included in the party were Thomas Mackenzie, William Soltau Pillans, and the commercial photographer, Fred Muir. McKinnon was successful and discovered a passage between the head of Lake Te Anau and Milford Sound. He and Mitchell crossed the pass and joined the surveying party on the other side. The pass was named Mackinnon Pass. The route became known as the Milford Track and this was the first practicable overland route across the South Island.