On 1 April 1945, McCormacks Bay joined the Greater Christchurch and came under the care of the C.C.C.
As the ‘Charlotte Jane’, the Canterbury Association’s first ship, sailed into Lyttelton Harbour that fine morning of 16 December 1850, William McCormack was ready to leave his steerage voyage behind him and make a go at a new life in a new land.
William McCormack, like most settlers, took up his land orders with the Land Office. He purchased 25 acres near Moa Point Cave on Sumner Road (now Main Road, Redcliffs) and another 25 acres further west on Sumner Road which is now the beginning of Ferry Road. As he was a labourer by trade, I’m sure he took on his land with great enthusiasm.
Tragically late 1868, William was thrown from his horse, hit a tree and died. There is no date or further details but advertisements about his estate in Sumner appear throughout January 1869 in The Press.
William is remembered today in the naming of McCormacks Bay, McCormacks Reserve, McCormacks Road and of course, McCormacks Causeway (pictured).
* Image courtesy of Cycling Christchurch – http://cyclingchristchurch.co.nz/
