Jack And Millie’s Legacy

McCathies Furniture Plus was founded by well-known local entrepreneurial couple, William ‘Jack’ McCathie and Amelia Jane ‘Millie’ McCathie in 1974 under the title of Ayr Secondhand Dealers.

Originally from Gympie, Jack relocated to the Burdekin region where he met and married the love of his life, Ayr local, Millie Orchard in 1943. The pair then went on to have two children, Janice Isobel and John William McCathie.

The business was one of many established by the couple in their 47 years of marriage, and many of their successful business ventures are still in operation in the Burdekin today. In their earlier years together, Jack and Millie established businesses in the areas of carpentry, wood depot and wood carting, the Supreme Taxi Service, Macs Milk Bar & Café, Macs Toyland, T & G Mutual Life Insurance Agency, TAA Travel Centre and were agents for Kern Homes & McCathies Real Estate.

Whilst operating TAA Travel Agency and McCathies Real Estate in 1974, the pair established Ayr Secondhand Dealers where Burdekin Motors stands today. Jack remained as the face of the travel agency and real estate, whilst Millie managed the second-hand shop until they invited their son John and his wife of four years, Lyndy, into the business later that year.

After the offer, John left his position as a traffic controller at the Kalamia Mill, and the pair joined the family business. The business’ current location, 262 Queen Street Ayr, harboured a tyre shop until the McCathie family purchased the land in 1978 to relocate the furniture business. The business was not fully enclosed and merely a mesh fence covered the rear of the building. Jack and John removed the fencing and in upholding the standards of 1970s security systems, John slept on the premises with a shotgun until the Aguirre brothers blocked in the wall, securing the building.

After the relocation, the larger premises allowed for the business to expand their range. John introduced new furniture pieces crafted by the Endeavour Foundation to be retailed on consignment along with second-hand items he sourced from auctions.

With opportunities for expansion at their fingertips, John and Lyndy invited long-time family friends, Lyn and Rodney Stenning into the business in 1994. Construction began to establish the large shed adjoining the current building to house regular auctions alongside selling a large assortment of second-hand furniture, and four years later in 1998, the business transformed into a retailer of new furniture.

In 2012, Lyn and Rodney’s retirement presented the perfect opportunity for John and Lyndy’s youngest daughter Kari, her husband Rob, and two children, to relocate from Townsville back to the Burdekin to invest in the family business. In 2013, Kari left behind a full-time career in teaching to take on the role of managing director of McCathies Furniture Plus, and Lyndy believes Jack and Millie would be beyond proud their business is in the capable hands of their own granddaughter.  

“I know how proud Jack and Millie would be to know that the business they started 50 years ago is in good hands with their granddaughter Kari and husband Rob,” expressed Lyndy.

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John, Millie, Jack and Janice McCathie

John McCathie and Rodney Stenning in front of the big shed

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