Karamuramu Island

Karamuramu Island is a privately owned island located in the Hauraki Gulf, to the east of the city of Auckland, New Zealand. It is located to the south of Pakihi Island, in Kawakawa Bay (east of Beachlands and north-east of Clevedon). It is just over 1 km offshore from Waitawa Regional Park.

Red-coloured chert from Karamuramu Island
Karamuramu Island
Karamuramu Island is located in New Zealand
Karamuramu Island
Karamuramu Island
Location in New Zealand
Geography
Coordinates36.9245°S 175.1570°E / -36.9245; 175.1570
Area0.06 km2 (0.023 sq mi)
Administration

The island has an area of about 6.5 hectares (16 acres). The island is the site of a quarry which extracts a decorative red-coloured chert known as "McCallum chip".[1] This, along with sand from the island, is primarily used as in aggregates to make decorative red concrete.

History

The island was purchased from Sir John Logan Campbell by the McCallum family in 1894 (along with the neighbouring Pakihi Island).[2] William Fraser McCallum and his brothers created a partnership in 1904 and established a quarry on the island in 1908.[3] The red stone from the island has been used in many sites around Auckland, including Grafton Bridge and the Auckland Motorway shoulders. The McCallum family is still running the mining operations today.

References
  1. "Kāramuramu Island quarry". Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  2. Munro, Jessie. "Clevedon Sustainable Development Plan Project European Historical Assessment" (PDF). Auckland Council. Clevedon and Districts Historical Society. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  3. "McCallum Bros Limited History". McCallum Bros. Ltd. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
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