Mackay Cottage was built around 1912 for Morton Dam workers and was later removed in 1980.
In the 1930s, Ian Mackay (1894–1970), an avid angler, found two cottages while exploring the river. One was occupied by a Water Board worker, the other abandoned, with a cow living inside. Mackay leased the abandoned cottage and refurbished it for his fishing getaways. It later became a cherished family retreat and served as a refuge during the polio outbreak. To deter cows, he and his father built a stone wall and planted tarata trees as a hedge in 1958.
During the war, Mackay often hosted servicemen at the cottage. On one memorable occasion, an American officer encountered a wild pig and shot it through the kitchen window.
The general area where the hut was located is called The Terrace, due to its elevated position in comparison to the river and immediate land around it. This hut existed from 1912 until 1980. Today, the site is marked by a sign and a rectangular fence made from rocks.
Gums Loop Swing Bridge provided access to Mackay Cottage from Reservoir Road. It also provided access to Pearson / Scout Hut and two undocumented huts that were gone by the 1930s.
