A large farm in a highly regarded part of North Canterbury is for sale.
Previously farmed separately, Weka Pass and Gowan Hill have been operated as a single 770-hectare entity since 1999.
Weka Pass has been in the Murchison family since 1954 when it was purchased by current manager Richard’s father Euan. In the late 1990s Richard took over the farm, initially with his brother Stephen, then with another brother Hugh, before going solo in 2010.
“Dad said that if any of us wanted to farm, we should always be able to come back here to do it. I’m one of five brothers, and we were always able to follow his request. I’m the one that stuck around,” says Richard.
Euan was one of the first in the district to turn to electric fencing.
“He developed his own system and was all set to apply for a patent. Unfortunately, he was too busy farming to follow through with the application. Until we started with a few cattle, we had three wire electric fences. However, they quickly wrecked that set up, so we had to put up permanent fences from that point on.”
Located 22 kilometres north of Amberley, 47 kilometres north of Rangiora, and 67 kilometres north of Christchurch, Weka Pass and Gowan Hill range from 120 to 384 metres above sea level.
On average the two properties receive 650 millimetres of rain per annum, are served by the county water scheme plus natural springs, and have approximately 100,000 litres of water storage apiece.
Conventionally fenced into approximately 130 paddocks, around 60 per cent of Weka Pass and Gowan Hill still feature electric fencing, with approximately 70 hectares deer fenced.
From 1860 to 1895 there was a hotel in front of the existing old house, which was originally three buildings joined to form a large homestead. This was used as a hospital during the 1919 influenza epidemic and remained in use as a family home until 1968.
While Weka Pass previously had a history of cropping, Richard focuses on finishing, currently running 3000 halfbred ewes, 950 hoggets, 100 Friesian cross cattle and 300 hybrid deer.
“Dad went from halfbred to Corriedale ewes, and now the farm is back with a halfbred flock. We are fenced for deer at Gowan Hill and have expanded that unit. While the previous owners ran velveting stags, we switched to weaners, which allows us to keep the deer unit free during summer if necessary. We have gradually increased cattlenumbers,” he says.
Although wheat and barley no longer feature in the property’s management, Richard grew a paddock of peas recently, and lucerne plays an important role in maintaining stock.
“Weka Pass and Gowan Hill could support virtually any breed, and could also run breeding cows,” reckons Richard.
Along with his colleague Mark Clyne, Peter Crean of PGG Wrighton Real Estate, Rangiora is selling the farm, which he says is a ‘lasting legacy’ and one of the most desirable to come to the North Canterbury market recently.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase a large pastoral farm in a tightly held area, either as a whole or in its two original parts.
“Weka Pass and Gowan Hill benefit from the locality’s natural limestone formations and soils, an outstanding geological attribute providing the basis for the area’s aesthetic appeal and fertility.
“With multiple dwellings, two sets of farm infrastructure, extensive deer fencing and favourable contour, Weka Pass and Gowan Hill are long established as strong country known for stock health and exceptional growth.
“Complemented by extensive plantings, including a 2.5-hectare walnut orchard, each property offers a rare and coveted combination of income, lifestyle and diversity, while as a pair they present abundant scale,” says Peter.
Once it is passed on to new owners, Richard will most miss his farm’s aesthetics.
“With the picturesque views and the limestone outcrops, it is a beautiful property. We have fenced off and developed a wetland and a pond, and have planted native areas including around a dry knob on the farm. They are beginning to attract bird life, so we are pleased with how that is turning out. I’ll also miss the people I deal with, though probably not so much the hard physical work of the farm,” he says.
Weka Pass comprises 330 hectares and Gowan Hill 440. They are for sale by deadline private treaty, either together or as two separate units, with offers sought no later than 6 November.
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