in 1825 the rev. john dunmore lang appealed for a minister for the church at portland head on the hawkesbury river, new south wales; mcgarvie was chosen and arrived in sydney in the "greenock" on 22 may 1826 after a six-month voyage from leith. met on arrival by reverend lang, mcgarvie went straight to portland head as the first presbyterian minister of the ebenezer church, remaining until 1830.