[1] He played 72 matches of first-class cricket for Cambridge University and South Australia between 1956 and 1964, scoring 3743 runs at an average of 31.72, with 9 centuries while completing his bachelor and masters in Law.

[2] His business career includes managing director of Nangwarry Pastoral Co. Pty.

He was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in January 1989 for "service to primary industry".

[3] He was a long term president (till 2014) of the South Australian Cricket Association.

[5] It was revealed in 2006 that McLachlan was present at a meeting between John Howard and Peter Costello, arranging a handover of power after one and a half terms if Howard was allowed to become opposition leader without challenge, and then won office from the Australian Labor Party (ALP).