Hugh Murray-Aynsley

Hugh Percy Murray-Aynsley (8 October 1828 – 22 February 1917) was a 19th-century Member of Parliament in Canterbury, New Zealand.

Early life Murray-Aynsley was born in Gloucestershire, England, in 1828. His father was John Murray-Aynsley (1795–1870) from Little Harle Tower, his grandfather was Lord Charles Murray-Aynsley (1771–1808), and his great-grandfather was John Murray, 3rd Duke of Atholl (1729–1774). His mother was Emma Sarah Peach, and his mother's grandfather was Henry Cruger.

For a time, Murray-Aynsley managed a sugar plantation in Trinidad for his cousin, Sir William Miles, with the firm operating as Miles & Co. Riverlaw was regarded as one of the finest colonial homes in Christchurch. It was significantly damaged in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake and demolished soon after.

Murray-Aynsley also bought the Mount Hutt Station in the Canterbury foothills from Alexander Lean.

In 1873, he was one of the founders of the New Zealand Shipping Company. He was one of the directors, and then chairman of directors until his death.

Note that some sources, for example Wilson (1985) and Scholefield (1950), list him under the surname Aynsley.

Death and legacy Murray-Aynsley died on 22 February 1917 at his residence at 38 Holly Road, St Albans, Christchurch. He was buried at Woolston Cemetery.

A variety of geographic features commemorate Murray-Aynsley. A spur of the Port Hills above the old homestead is known as Murray Aynsley Hill. Two roads on the true right of the Ōpāwaho / Heathcote River, initially known as River Road, were renamed. While Murray-Aynsley was still alive, the road from Opawa Bridge to Rapaki Track was renamed Aynsley Terrace; the homestead was located at the Rapaki Track end of this road. The next section of road upstream from here was renamed to Riverlaw Terrace in the following year some months after Murray-Aynsley's death. Harold Street in Sydenham was on land that belonged to Murray-Aynsley; it was initially known as Aynsleys Alley No 4, and then Aynsley Street.