| Administrative History | Mackie Academy was endowed by William Mackie, feuar of Stonehaven and corn merchant. His wife and two sons had predeceased him. By deed of settlement dated 30 December 1868, he appointed Trustees to establish and maintain a school in the Newtown of Stonehaven where pupils of both sexes might receive 'an Education superior to what can be obtained at the parish schools and by which many parents in respectable positions of life might be saved the expense and necessity of sending their children to a distance to obtain such education'.
William Mackie died on 21 September 1871 and was buried in Fetteresso churchyard, but it was not until 1891 when the funds had grown sufficiently that plans were drawn up for Mackie Academy.
The architect of the building on Arduthie Road was Duncan McMillan of Aberdeen and the school was formally opened on 3 October 1893 with William Riddoch as headmaster (formerly classical master, Aberdeen) at a salary of £350 per annum and a staff consisting of a mathematical master (salary £140 per annum), a mistress (salary £100 per annum), an infant mistress (salary £70 per annum) and a janitor to teach drill and take charge of the grounds (he received 12 shillings per week, with a free house, coal and light). There were 116 pupils including 6 in receipt of scholarships. There were 81 in the Upper Department (endowed) and 35 in the Lower Department. The quarterly fees were 10 shillings for Infants, 12 shillings 6 pence for Standard I, 15 shillings for Standards II and III, 20 shillings for Standards IV and V and 15 shillings for the Upper Department, and an extra £1 1 shilling for pianoforte.
The opening ceremony was reported in the local newspaper. A printed prospectus was printed each year, though there are no copies of the earliest ones held by Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Archives.
The building was subsequently damaged by fire in 1929, which was repaired and re-opened in 1932 (pupils were temporarily accommodated in Dunnottar school). In August 1969 staff and pupils of the Secondary Department moved to a new premises on the Slug Road. The primary department remained at the Arduthie Road site which was renamed Arduthie Primary School. |