Susannah Irvine

15 Apr 1955

Oamaru Woman Celebrates 100th Birthday To-morrow

Oamaru's oldest resident Mrs Susannah Irvine, who lives with her son and daughter-in-law, Mr and Mrs George Irvine, of Thames highway, will celebrate her 100th birthday on Saturday. Mrs Irvine has resided in the district for 97 years.

With her parents and five brothers and four sisters three-year-old Susannah Amies arrived at Dunedin in the ship Nourmahal in 1858. The family proceeded to Kakanui, where Susannah spent her childhood on a farm. At that time Oamaru was merely a flax swamp.

Up to a few months ago Mrs Irvine could remember clearly early buildings, muddy roads and many of the events marking the early development of the town. She has seen it grow from a place of primitive huts to a thriving borough with a population which now exceeds 10,000.

Mrs Irvine still retains all her faculties. Her eyesight and hearing are good, and she can still walk around by herself. In recent months her memory has failed, but all her life Mrs Irvine has enjoyed the best of health.

On March 19, 1879, she married John Irvine at the residence of her father at Totara. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Charles Edward Bartley. Her husband before their marriage served as a first mate on sailing ships before settling in Oamaru, where he was employed on the construction of the Oamaru breakwater, and later in the New Zealand Railways as a signalman. He died 61 years ago.

After their marriage the couple lived in Hull Street for 13 years, and later shifted to Thames Highway, where Mrs Irvine had five of a family, two of whom John (Herbert) and George (Oamaru) are still living. She has four grandsons and three great-grandchildren. Three of her children have predeceased her.

Mrs Irvine's youngest brother, Mr George Amies, lives at Whangarei.

16 April 1955

Queen Sends Message to Centenarian

A congratulatory message from the Queen was perhaps the greatest thrill for Mrs Susannah Irvine (formerly Susannah Amies) of 351, Thames Highway, to-day - but then it is not every day that one of the Queen's subjects reaches 100 years of age.

Telegrams and visitors arrived in force at Mrs Irvine's home throughout the day.

"Young" Brother's Message

Another message which she was especially pleased to receive was from the only other surviving member of the Amies family which arrived in New Zealand in 1858 - her "young brother," Mr George Amies, of Whangarei, who is close on 90 years of age himself.

Telegrams were also received this morning from the Governor-General (Sir Willoughby Norrie) and the Prime Minister (Mr Holland).