The name is a thought to be a contraction of Loch na Mara, Scottish Gaelic for 'loch of the sea'.

The land was subdivided for holiday housing in the 1960s, with some becoming the Lochmara Bay Scenic Reserve.

The majority of these lots never came to fruition, but some were developed by Marlborough families, who built houses and shacks there.

After the Second World War more lots were subdivided and sold, some smaller than a hectare, and holiday housing became more popular along with the advent of improved roads and railways.

[8] Double Cove is located just outside of the eastern tip of Lochmara Bay.