Wedding of Nora Robinson and Alexander Kirkman Finlay

The wedding of Nora Augusta Maud Robinson and Alexander Kirkman Finlay on 7 August 1878, in St James' Church, Sydney
The wedding register, listing Finlay as a bachelor born in Scotland living at Glenorminston, Victoria and Robinson as a spinster born in St Kitts, living at Government House, Sydney, the service having been performed according to the Rites of the Church of England.

The wedding of Nora Augusta Maud Robinson with Alexander Kirkman Finlay, of Glenormiston, was solemnised in St James' Church, Sydney, on Wednesday, 7 August 1878 by the Rev. Canon Allwood, assisted by Rev. Hough. The bride was the second daughter of the governor of New South Wales, Sir Hercules Robinson, GCMG, and his wife. The groom, owner of Glenormiston, a large station in Victoria, was the second son of Alexander Struthers Finlay, of Castle Toward, Argyleshire, Scotland.[1][2]

As this was only the second vice-regal wedding to take place in the colony, it generated enormous public interest. The crowd, estimated at between 8,000 and 10,000, thronged the streets outside the church and a large body of police had trouble preserving order. The wedding was attended by the most important members of Sydney society at the time - leaders, administrators, officials, legislators, naval officers, lawyers and aristocrats, many of whom had Scottish connections. There was extensive coverage in the press around the country, including in The Sydney Morning Herald, The Queanbeyan Age,[3] the South Australian Register,[4] the Australian Town and Country Journal, The Argus, The Wagga Wagga Daily Advertiser[5] and the Riverine Herald.

  1. ^ "Family Notices". Sydney Morning Herald. NSW. 8 August 1878. p. 1. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  2. ^ "Mr. and Mrs. Finlay". Australian Town and Country Journal. NSW. 17 August 1878. p. 17. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  3. ^ "Marriage of Mr A.K. Finlay and Miss Robinson". The Queanbeyan Age. NSW. 14 August 1878. p. 1. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  4. ^ "New South Wales". South Australian Register. Adelaide, SA. 8 August 1878. p. 5. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  5. ^ "The Vice Regal Nuptials at St. James' Church". Wagga Wagga Advertiser. NSW. 10 August 1878. p. 1 Supplement: Supplement to the "Wagga Wagga Advertiser". Retrieved 4 December 2013.