Karamuramu Island facts for kids
 Karamuramu Island
Location in New Zealand
Location in New Zealand
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| Geography | |
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| Coordinates | 36°55′28″S 175°09′25″E / 36.9245°S 175.1570°E |
| Area | 0.06 km2 (0.023 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
Karamuramu Island is a small, privately-owned island. It's located in the Hauraki Gulf in New Zealand. This island is found east of Auckland, near Pakihi Island. It sits in Kawakawa Bay, not far from Waitawa Regional Park.
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About Karamuramu Island
Karamuramu Island is about 6.5 hectares in size. That's roughly the same as 16 football fields. The island is well-known for its special quarry. This quarry digs up a unique red stone. It's called "McCallum chip."
What is "McCallum Chip"?
"McCallum chip" is a type of rock called chert. It has a beautiful red color. This red stone, mixed with sand from the island, is used for building. It helps make special red concrete. This concrete is used for paths and other decorative areas.
Island History
The McCallum family bought Karamuramu Island in 1894. They bought it from Sir John Logan Campbell. They also bought the nearby Pakihi Island at the same time.
The McCallum Family and the Quarry
In 1904, William Fraser McCallum and his brothers formed a business. They started a quarry on Karamuramu Island in 1908. The red stone from this island has been used in many important places. You can find it in Auckland, like on the Grafton Bridge. It was also used on the shoulders of the Auckland Motorway. The McCallum family still runs the quarry today.
