Alexandra McKinnon Burns... Subiaco Business Woman (1938).
During March International Women's Day was held. The Subiaco Museum created an exhibition to highlight the contribution of women to the Subiaco community.
The women included Alexandra McKinnon Burns (1864 -1961), Dame Annie Florence Gillies Cardell-Oliver (1876 - 1965), Adelaide 'Queenie' Chugg (1898 - 1981), The Lipfert Sisters (Minna Maria Lipfert (1902 – 1959), Olga Gertrude Lipfert (1906 - 1989) and Thekla Elsa Lipfert (1912 - 1989) and Ethel Maude Thomas M.B.E (1881 - 1961). The exhibition contained a number of wonderful photographs and artefacts and are available on the webpage from the Subiaco Museum.
While there is a substantial amount of information about the exceptional work and life of Dame Cardell-Oliver available on various sites on the Internet, Trove, the database of the National Library of Australia contains some wonderful information and photographs about the women mentioned by the Subiaco Museum in their exhibition. One of those women is Alexandra McKinnon Burns.
Alexandra McKinnon Burns was born in 1864 in Spring Creek, Victoria. She married William Burns. After William established the Brown and Burns Bakery in Subiaco in partnership with Samuel Brown she followed him to Perth. Together they had four sons, Thomas, Ormond, Robert and Jack and a daughter Alexandra (Lexe). The family lived at 25 Catherine Street, Subiaco.
In 1931, the Daily News newspaper published an article about how the Brown and Burns Bakery had become a quality bakery, not only in Subiaco but throughout Perth. The article discusses the products the bakery made and the methods used to make and deliver bread throughout the metropolitan area. The business employed 25 permanent employees.
After William's death and Mr Samuel Brown entered Parliament, the partnership was dissolved. Alexandra purchased all interests in the business which she directed before including her sons and daughters in the partnership. She was the governing director until her death in 1938 (West Australian, 28 May 1938).
In 1938 the West Australian published a detailed obituary following the death of Alexandra McKinnon Burns "...All her life Mrs. Burns was a strong adherent of the Presbyterian Church. She was devoted to her four sons and her daughter and to her grandchildren; endeared to her other relatives, of whom there are a considerable number in Western Australia and greatly appreciated by a very large circle of friends.
In recent years Mrs. Burns made a world tour and also paid a visit to China and Japan. being accompanied on the first occasion by her daughter, now Mrs. van der Sluys of New Guinea. Mrs. Burns was also an ardent supporter and worker for the Y.A.L (Young Australia League...." (West Australian, 26 May 1938).
The articles and photographs are from Trove, the database at the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended.
The photograph of Alexandra McKinnon Burns is from the Museum of Subiaco webpage. No copyright infringement intended.
Daily News, 18 March 1931.
SUPREMACY IN BREAD-MAKING.
Bread, which has been man's first necessity throughout all the ages, has undergone changes at various times, but the basic conception remains . Bread presenting in this form the incomparable nutrition that is derived from the grain. After all the bread fads which have, come and gone in recent times it is refreshing to find that in Subiaco the old and reputable firm of Messrs. Brown and Burns Ltd., in Hay street, prefer to adhere to the original idea with the difference - that they are for ever seeking to improve upon the methods by which good, simple, plain bread is made.
Not only in Subiaco but every part of Perth the mention of the name of Brown and Burns is synchronised to the picture of the perfect loaf. The firm dates its history back to 1897, when Subiaco would have provided excellent location if there had at that time been a motion picture company producing scenes in Sahara. The original members of the firm were the late Samuel Brown and William Burns. From the smallest kind of bakery the business has grown to the large and commodious premises in Hay-street, which are grown throughout the entire metropolitan area. From delivering the bread in a basket to the present splendid motor-van service pictured on this page some idea may be gained of the progress which has been made.
Mr. T. A. Burns tells us that they have followed every development in breadmaking in recent years, but although they make fancy breads they believe that nothing is produced today that is superior to the Vienna loaf or rolls, in which they specialise. This is a highly riur tritive bread made of milk, butter and sugar, and is baked in a special oven known as a steam tube, made for the purpose. Among otter up-to-date devices used by the firm are two types of dough mixers, dividing and weighing machines and other forms of mechanism designed for, convenience, hygiene and greater efficiency in baking.
The extent of the business of Messrs. Brown and Burns may be gauged by the fact that they bake about one million loaves of bread annually and that their custom extends all over, the metropolitan area. They have 25 permanent employes. Their products and Particularly their Vienna rolls are served in most of the tearooms in Perth. The firm are also famous for their Health and Veeda breads, which are unexcelled in food value. Messrs. Brown and Burns Ltd. Bakery.
West Australian, 26 May 1938.
The Late Mrs. A. McK. Burns.
The funeral of the late Mrs. Alexandra McKinnon Burns. of 25 Catherine-street, Subi #aco. took place in the Presbyterian Cemetery, Karrakatta yesterday afternoon in the presence of a very large and representative gathering.
The service at the graveside was conducted by the Rev. T. P. MeEvoy, of the Subiaco Presbyterian Church who during the course of an eloquent tribute to the life of the late Mrs. Burns, referred to her devotion and adherence to her principles. Mrs. Burns was the sixth daughter of Mr. and Mrs. LackIan McKinnon. who went from the Isle of Skye to Victoria in 1852.
She was born at Spring Creek near Daylesford, and close to the famous Hepburn Spa, in 1864. After her marriage to Mr. William Burns in the late eighties she resided in Melbourne until she followed her husband to Perth in 1897, shortly after he had, in partnership with the late Mr. S. Mc. Brown. established the bakery establishment of Brown and Burns at Subiaco.
Since then she resided in that suburb of Perth. Her husband predeceased her 34 years all but a day. After Mr. Brown had entered Parliament the partnership was dissolved. Mrs. Burns purchasing all interests in the business which she directed with considerable acumen for a long period before she took her sons and daughter into partnership. She remained governing director until her death, the management being in the hands of her eldest son. Mr. T. A. Burns, who, until recently, was president of the Master Bakers' Association of this State and, for a term, was Australasian President of the master bakers' organisatlons.
All her life Mrs. Burns was a strong adherent of the Presbyterian Church. She was devoted to her four sons and her daughter and to her grandchildren; endeared to her other relatives, of whom there are a considerable number in Western Australia and greatly appreclated by a very large circle of friends.
In recent years Mrs. Burns made a world tour and also paid a visit to China and Japan. being accompanied on the first occasion by her daughter, now Mrs. van der Sluys of New Guinea. Mrs. Burns was also an ardent supporter and worker for the Y.A.L.
The chief mourners were Messrs. T. A.. O. A., R. W. and J. H. Burns (sons). Mrs. J. van der Slurs (daughter). Mrs. M. Roe (sister), Mr. J. Burns (brother-in-law)....
