Geoff Chart grew up on a high altitude third generation 6000 hectare family farm in Kiambogo, which means ‘land of the buffaloes,’ north west of Nairobi, in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley.
“We were right on the equator so every day of the year the sun rose at six am and set at six pm. Before I could walk I was put in a basket on the back of a horse, and ridden around the farm.”
This was the late 1930s, around 40 years after his grandfather had trekked approximately 5000 kilometres from Cape Town, walking alongside an ox wagon to settle in Kenya, a journey that took six months.
“As a five year old I was given an airgun. The farm had four rivers running through it, so if I wasn’t shooting pigeons for the pot, I was fishing for trout.”
By the 1970s Kenya was changing. Geoff and his wife Shirley decided to leave Africa, embarking on their own trek before buying 120 hectares in Hawarden, North Canterbury, with their two young daughters.
“It took some getting used to. Although I knew how to raise sheep and grow wheat and barley, in Africa labour was plentiful, so I was used to training people in farming rather than working on the farm myself. With help from the neighbours, we stuck it out,” says Geoff.
In the early 2000s seeking to downsize, they received a good offer for their land. However, rather than moving, Geoff and Shirley decided to subdivide and build a new house on a 20 hectare portion of their farm, where they’ve lived since.
Earlier this year and ready for the next step, the Charts engaged Kevin Rowe of PGG Wrightson Real Estate, Rangiora to offer their property to the market. He describes it as a spacious home on well-established land, with quality infrastructure and stunning views.
“Impressive grounds featuring established gardens; a thoughtfully designed home that enables comfortable family living; and more land than is usually attached to a lifestyle property set this apart, while the views take it to the next level. In this part of North Canterbury such a desirable offering is rare, and we knew the market would respond positively,” he says.
Tara and Nick Abbott, who lived ten minutes away, were among those who took an interest, though until they drove up the driveway, weren’t so enthusiastic.
“Newer houses in the area are hard to come by. This one is well landscaped and has amazing views, which we fell in love with,” says Nick.
Their three children Riley, Jake and Kelly, also came to view the property.
“They’re still arguing over who gets the view that looks over the pond and out towards Waikari from their bedroom,” says Tara, who’s looking forward to having a bigger living area.
“We can all get together with family and friends, especially to watch rugby. We might need to invest in a bigger TV,” she says.
It’s an ideal match: the Abbots run a small agricultural contracting business, and recently subdivided the property they were living on, holding onto five hectares to continue serving as the base of the business.
“While that property has good sheds and enough space, when this property came up we had been pondering our next venture for some time. It ticks a lot of boxes for us.”
It allows them to rent out the original home while continuing to run the business from the existing yard.
“That means we can separate home from work and truly switch off when we get home,” says Nick.
Utilising their contracting machinery they plan to re-pasture and crop the newly acquired land.
“It’s just what we need,” says Nick.
For the next step of their ‘out of Africa’ trek, Geoff and Shirley Chart are moving to Amberley.
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