Hugh Percy Murray-Aynsley (8 October 1828 – 22 February 1917) was a 19th-century Member of Parliament in Canterbury, New Zealand.
Early life
Murray-Aynsley was born in Gloucestershire, England, in 1828. His father was John Murray-Aynsley (1795–1870) from Little Harle Tower,[2] his grandfather was Lord Charles Murray-Aynsley (1771–1808), and his great-grandfather was John Murray, 3rd Duke of Atholl (1729–1774).[3][4][5] His mother was Emma Sarah Peach, and his mother's grandfather was Henry Cruger.[4] His grandfather was baptised as Charles Murray and upon his marriage to Alicia Mitford (1768–1813), the heiress of her great-uncle, Gawen Aynsley, Esq, he assumed the additional surname Aynsley. Murray-Aynsley was educated privately; his tutor later became Bishop of Ely.[6]
For a time, Murray-Aynsley managed a sugar plantation in Trinidad for his cousin, Sir William Miles, with the firm operating as Miles & Co.[2][6] He came to Melbourne on the Royal Bride, and from there to New Zealand in 1858, arriving on the Queen in Lyttelton.[6][5]
Life in New Zealand
Riverlaw in Christchurch
He was manager and the principal partner for the Christchurch branch of Miles & Co, a stock and station agency.[5] He married Elizabeth Campbell on 7 June 1859.[4] In 1862, Murray-Aynsley purchased Riverlaw, a rural property at the bottom of Rapaki Track adjacent to the Ōpāwaho / Heathcote River originally owned by Alexander Lean.[7] Sometime between 1885 and 1892, Murray-Aynsley had a two-storey homestead built. He sold Riverlaw in 1905 to George John Smith, who further enlarged the house including the addition of a third storey. On 6 September 1984, the house was registered with Heritage New Zealand as a Category II heritage place, with registration number 3728;[8] Riverlaw was regarded as one of the finest colonial homes in Christchurch.[9] It was significantly damaged in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake and demolished soon after.[10]
Murray-Aynsley also bought the Mount Hutt Station in the Canterbury foothills from Alexander Lean.[5][11]
In 1873, he was one of the founders of the New Zealand Shipping Company. He was one of the directors, and then chairman of directors until his death.[6]
Note that some sources, for example Wilson (1985) and Scholefield (1950), list him under the surname Aynsley.
Death and legacy
Murray-Aynsley died on 22 February 1917 at his residence at 38 Holly Road, St Albans, Christchurch.[18] He was buried at Woolston Cemetery.[19]
A variety of geographic features commemorate Murray-Aynsley. A spur of the Port Hills above the old homestead is known as Murray Aynsley Hill.[20][21] Two roads on the true right of the Ōpāwaho / Heathcote River, initially known as River Road, were renamed. While Murray-Aynsley was still alive, the road from Opawa Bridge to Rapaki Track was renamed Aynsley Terrace; the homestead was located at the Rapaki Track end of this road.[22][23] The next section of road upstream from here was renamed to Riverlaw Terrace in the following year some months after Murray-Aynsley's death.[24][25] Harold Street in Sydenham was on land that belonged to Murray-Aynsley; it was initially known as Aynsleys Alley No 4, and then Aynsley Street.[26]
