Stand here before the McLachlan Memorial. It stands as a tribute to a family’s generosity and a settlement’s failed dreams. This monument at Puponga Point is more than just stone. It whispers tales of Scottish settlers, a long voyage, and a gift that shaped Auckland’s landscape.
The McLachlan Memorial commemorates John Mitchell McLachlan’s gift of land. He donated 1927 acres to Auckland City. This land became part of the Waitakere Ranges parklands. The memorial also honors his mother, Isabella Mitchell McLachlan.
The story starts with the ship Brilliant. It arrived in the Manukau Harbour on October 29, 1841. On board were settlers for the Cornwallis Estate. Lachlan McLachlan managed the Manukau Land Company. He was John Mitchell McLachlan’s father. John himself was born on the estate on October 18, 1842.
The Auckland City Council erected this monument. J.H. Gunson Esq., Mayor of Auckland, unveiled it on July 17, 1918. H.W. Wilson was the Town Clerk and W.E. Bush the City Engineer.
John Mitchell McLachlan was the most famous member of this early settlement. The Cornwallis Estate was meant to be a frontier town. The Manukau and Waitemata Company planned it. They sold about 80 of 100 sections. The Brilliant set sail from the Clyde. The journey took ten long months. People thought the ship was lost.
The settlers faced disappointment upon arrival. Local Maori built temporary huts for them. But there were few other signs of civilization. The company hadn’t even secured the land properly.
Early life in Cornwallis was hard. Drowning was a common fate. Captain William Cornwallis Symonds and three others drowned in November 1841. They were trying to deliver medical supplies. Symonds Street in Auckland is named in his honor.
Lachlan McLachlan led the settlers after this tragedy. Two more company ships arrived. They brought a steam-powered sawmill and more settlers. The Cornwallis settlement struggled. There was little money to be made. The sawmill closed in 1843. Many settlers left.
The Daily Southern Cross criticized the Manukau and Waitemata Company. They said it failed to deliver on its promises. People drifted away from Cornwallis.
Decades later, a cottage in Cornwallis played a role in a tragedy. The HMS Orpheus wrecked on the Manukau Bar in 1863. John Kilgour and his wife rescued some sailors. They nursed them back to health.
John Mitchell McLachlan bought the Cornwallis area in 1903. He wanted to add it to the city’s parklands. He gifted the land in 1910, after his death. The monument was erected in 1918.
In 1927, lightning badly damaged the McLachlan Memorial. From 1916, the Council allowed holiday baches along the beach. These existed until 1977. The Council then demolished them.
Today, Cornwallis is largely unspoiled. Visitors walk the beach and fish from the pier. McLachlan’s gift preserved this environment. Future generations of Aucklanders can enjoy it.
So, as you stand here, remember the vision of a Scottish settlement. Remember the challenges they faced. Most importantly, appreciate the gift of John Mitchell McLachlan. It has created this beautiful space for us all to enjoy. The McLachlan Memorial stands as a reminder of the past and a promise for the future.