Reference NumberARC-0374CreatorMcGeorge familyDescriptionThe collection includes personal and family papers of A.C. McGeorge along with McGeorge family photographs. It also includes minutes, correspondence, financial records, diaries, reminiscences, maps, mineral samples and photographs relating to gold dredging. There are prospectuses for numerous dredging companies.
Only a small part of this collection is digitised and available through Digital Collections. Information about other items can be found on the Hākena catalogue, through the Library Catalogues link above.History / BiographyA pioneer of gold dredging in Otago, Alexander Crow McGeorge was born at Dunedin in 1868. He completed his apprenticeship as an engineer in 1889 and entered the dredging business in 1892, working first at Deep Stream and later on the Clutha and Manuherikia rivers. In 1894 McGeorge co-founded the Electric Gold Dredging Company, which began its highly successful operations on the Kawarau River in 1895. In 1899 McGeorge married Ethel Aldred and the couple moved to Dunedin in 1901. In 1902 the McGeorge brothers began another successful dredging venture at Waikaka. Alexander McGeorge also held interests in many other dredging companies. He died at Karitane in 1953.