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Mirrielees, Alexander James (Alick), 1878-1972 (Person)
SummaryKnown as “Alick”. Born at Riverton, Southland, on 4 June 1878. Trained as a chemist under C. F. Whiteford, Riverton; later qualified in Wellington and opened a pharmacy at Johnsonville. Married Violet Mary Ada Sheath in Wellington (1902). In 1910 he moved to Tauranga, buying R. J. Allely’s pharmacy on The Strand. The “Mirrielees Series” are his photographic development work using photographs taken by John Welsh.
Mirrielees served in the Rifle Volunteers, transferred to the 6th Hauraki Regiment, acted as Tauranga recruiting officer during the First World War, and retired as Major. He was active in local bodies and clubs: Tauranga Harbour Board, Fire Board, Chamber of Commerce, Rifle Club, Golf Club, Yacht and Power Boat Club, Deep Sea Fishing Club and Tauranga Club. As Harbour Board chairman he supported Sulphur Point reclamation and planting at Pane Pane. Mirrielees Road, formerly Spit Road, was renamed for him in 1951. He died at Tauranga on 13 August 1972 and was buried in Tauranga Anglican Cemetery.
SourcesNew Zealand Government. Marriage record 1902/4388 Mirrielees and Sheath.Arabin, Shirley. (2018, October 26). The House at Cameron Road. Tauranga Historical Society Blog.McLean, Heather. (c. 1997). Tauranga Anglican Cemetery headstones.Tauranga City Council. (n.d.). Cemeteries search: Hammond, Frederick HamiltonMcCauley, Debbie. (2022). Alexander James Mirrielees (1878-1972)Strand railway 'awful error' says pioneer. (1964, February). Bay of Plenty Times.
Mirrielees served in the Rifle Volunteers, transferred to the 6th Hauraki Regiment, acted as Tauranga recruiting officer during the First World War, and retired as Major. He was active in local bodies and clubs: Tauranga Harbour Board, Fire Board, Chamber of Commerce, Rifle Club, Golf Club, Yacht and Power Boat Club, Deep Sea Fishing Club and Tauranga Club. As Harbour Board chairman he supported Sulphur Point reclamation and planting at Pane Pane. Mirrielees Road, formerly Spit Road, was renamed for him in 1951. He died at Tauranga on 13 August 1972 and was buried in Tauranga Anglican Cemetery.
SourcesNew Zealand Government. Marriage record 1902/4388 Mirrielees and Sheath.Arabin, Shirley. (2018, October 26). The House at Cameron Road. Tauranga Historical Society Blog.McLean, Heather. (c. 1997). Tauranga Anglican Cemetery headstones.Tauranga City Council. (n.d.). Cemeteries search: Hammond, Frederick HamiltonMcCauley, Debbie. (2022). Alexander James Mirrielees (1878-1972)Strand railway 'awful error' says pioneer. (1964, February). Bay of Plenty Times.Usage
Kaitiakitanga StatementWe ask that, in addition to normal copyright and privacy considerations, users of our heritage resources uphold the mana and dignity of the people, communities and places depicted within.LicenseCC BY 4.0AcknowledgementTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries Mirrielees, Alexander James (Alick), 1878-1972 (Person)
LicenseCC BY 4.0AcknowledgementTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries Mirrielees, Alexander James (Alick), 1878-1972 (Person)Personal Information
First Name(s)Alexander JamesSurnameMirrieleesAlso Known asAlickGenderMaleDate of Birth4 June 1878Date of Death13 August 1972Place of DeathTaurangaOccupationPhotographerOptometristPharmacist
SurnameMirrieleesAlso Known asAlickGenderMaleDate of Birth4 June 1878Date of Death13 August 1972Place of DeathTaurangaOccupationPhotographerOptometristPharmacistWhānau
MotherLyon, Ellen FrancesFatherMirrielees, William PhillipChildrenMirrielees, Kathleen Joan (Joan), 1903-1991 (Person)Mirrielees, Violet Elsie, 1908-2002Mirrielees, Ronald William Phillip, 1908-1974
FatherMirrielees, William PhillipChildrenMirrielees, Kathleen Joan (Joan), 1903-1991 (Person)Mirrielees, Violet Elsie, 1908-2002Mirrielees, Ronald William Phillip, 1908-1974Partner
PartnerMirrielees, Violet Mary Ada née Sheath, 1879-1928 (Person)Date Married21 July 1902Place of MarriageWellington, New Zealand
Date Married21 July 1902Place of MarriageWellington, New ZealandMilitary Service
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AuthorTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City LibrariesType of ContributionLibrary authorityTaxonomyStories | People
Type of ContributionLibrary authorityTaxonomyStories | PeopleTauranga City Libraries Staff - Harley Couper, Mirrielees, Alexander James (Alick), 1878-1972 (Person). Pae Korokī, accessed 14/07/2026, https://paekoroki.tauranga.govt.nz/nodes/view/113197
