Alexander McCorkindale 1856 – 1872

Chrissiesmeer History

The area, New-Scotland is well known to the people of Lothair, Warburton, Lochiel, The Brook and Jessievale.  This all is due to an eccentric Scotsman, Alexander McCorkindale. He fell in love with this area because it reminded him so much of his home country.  McCorkindale’s activities from 1856 up to his death in 1872 were quite extraordinary. He was an entrepreneur, a shrewd businessman (typical Scot) and a visionary.

McCorkindale convinced the ZAR government to sell him 200 farms near the Swaziland border, in order to establish an immigration scheme. He gave these farms Scottish names like Iona, Dumbarton, Bonnie Brook and  Craigie Lea  Due to his charming personality, the ZAR were very impressed with all the developments he envisaged for the region, especially the 8000 pounds stirling he paid for the first farms he bought.Alexander McCorkindale raised the money by selling  the mineral rights to the Glasgow and South African Company Limited. During this time he stayed at Lake Banager, in  cave overhang  while building a cottage overlooking the lake.

He furthermore convinced the ZAR Government to investigate his scheme to build a
harbor at Maputo and to deepen the Pongola River up to Josini dam. This was necessary to bring the ships inland, to establish a tsetse free transport route for exports. The ox wagons would bring their cargo only to Pongola where it would be loaded onto ships for export. During his inspection recce of the Pongola River on foot he contracted malaria, and died on Inhaca Island in 1872.

It took the ZAR government another 20 years to untangle and finalize business. During the court case, Bok vs. McCorkindale, his widow had to give back 20 farms to settle matters.

Alexander was also responsible for the name Chrissiesmeer. Him and his wife did not have children and were very fond of Pres. M.W. Pretorius’s daughter, Christina.  They renamed Zeekoeipan to Miss Chrissies Lake, which later became Lake Chrissie and even later, Chrissiesmeer.

Read more on the Chrissiesmeer website.