One of Invercargill’s most entrepreneurial inventors, Robert MacFarlane Murie, 1872-1946, was born in Glasgow, Scotland. The family emigrated to New Zealand in 1881, before leaving for Melbourne in 1889. Robert served an engineering apprenticeship in Melbourne, before returning to Invercargill in 1893. He established an engineering and cycle business in the “Prince of Wales Lane”, off Dee Street, making motor-cars and bicycles. He belonged to the Invercargill Cycling Club and is credited with establishing Invercargill’s first motor garage.

In 1907 he announced he was building a hot-air balloon, which garnered much public attention and interest. This image most likely shows preparations for the first successful ascent of his balloon, which took place in February 1908 within Queen’s Park. The balloon is named “Phoenix”, after a brand of bicycles he created specifically for Southland’s roads.

SOURCES: NOT A CLEVERER MAN IN TOWN: THE LIFE OF ROBERT MacFARLANE MURIE BY DAVID MURIE, REF: LC 338.04 MUR; MURIHIKU: THE SOUTHLAND STORY, REF: 993.96 MUR; PAPERS PAST