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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

Ringwood Estate

Ringwood Estate (George McRae, proprietor), Greenstreet. Mr. George McRae, the proprietor of “Ringwood,” was born in 1838 in Ross-shire, Scotland, where he was brought up to a pastoral life. In 1857 he came to New Zealand by the ship “Glentanner.” After gaining experience of station life in Canterbury and Otago, and being for thirteen years head shepherd on the Mesopotamia estate, he bought a sheep run on the Rangitata. He afterwards had another run on the Waipawa Downs, and in 1895 he bought the freehold of the Braemore estate, of 4400 acres, in the Cheviot district. Mr. McRae spent a large amount of money in improving the property. Whilst at “Braemore” he was chairman of the Cheviot County Council, and a member of the Hurunui Rabbit Board, and of the local school committee. Mr. McRae sold “Braemore” in 1900, and bought the Barford estate, of 3,760 acres, on the north side of the Hinds river. He held that property till July, 1902, when he sold it, and bought “Ringwood,” where he has built a new residence, and made many other improvements. Mr. McRae was one of the thirty-one of the “Glentanner's” passengers who met in Christchurch on the 3rd of October, 1897, to celebrate the forteith anniversary of their landing in New Zealand. In May, 1903, he left New Zealand to pay a visit to the Old Country.