A large and spectacular St Arnaud farm, surrounded on three sides by national park, is for sale.
Set in an alpine environment of native beech forest and expansive mountain views, the property offers a rare combination of scale, privacy, and natural beauty.
Farmed by Tim Robilliard since 2014, Howard Head has been carefully managed over the past decade and is now presented to the market by Joe Blakiston of PGG Wrightson Real Estate, Blenheim, in conjunction with colleague Greg Lyons.
Joe says the aesthetics of the district are among the most desirable he has encountered.“This is an incredible locality to farm. Breathtaking views across the surrounding ranges are complemented by a property that has been well-husbanded over several decades to reward careful management with excellent productivity,” he says.
Although such a remote location has its challenges, Tim says the positives of the 1,053-hectare farm, capable of carrying approximately 4,500 stock units, far outweigh the more difficult aspects.
“Living in this alpine environment, surrounded by native beech forest, with Mount Angelus outside my window, after nearly 12 years, I still don’t take it for granted.”
After farming in Canterbury for 33 years, when Tim first encountered Howard Head, he recognised its quality.
“It had obviously been farmed well by a competent farmer. The farm won the national Romney hogget competition on three occasions,” he says.
At three kilometres to the nearest neighbour, he appreciates its out-of-the-way character.
“Farming here is so peaceful, though there’s a strong community in the valley and plenty of social activity if you go looking for it. It’s a special place to live. A few years ago,a 14-year-old girl turned up here by accident. She loved it so much she spent every holiday back here through the rest of her teens and beyond.”
Already partially deer fenced in 2014, when he bought the property Tim took a leap of faith with deer.
“I hadn’t farmed them before, so wasn’t sure they would suit me. Now farming and breeding deer is one of the things I will most miss when I move on,” he says.
Howard Head carries around 340 red hinds, with the best of them going to velvet stags and their progeny kept to two years old when the stags are sold to velveting farms. The balance are mated to elk bulls to produce hybrid weaners. In his tenure Tim has extended deer fencing, now covering a significant area near the homestead. However, when it comes to meat on the table, he mainly relies on his neighbour, the Nelson Lakes National Park.
“We eat plenty of feral Department of Conservation deer. We have a good relationship with DOC. As you would any other neighbour, we try to help where we can, while they regard our boundaries as natural and generally leave me alone, which makes life simple, not having to deal with anyone else’s stock,” he says.
As well as deer the farm runs some 155 Angus and Hereford cross cows and 1200 Romney ewes. Most years the calves are wintered and sold as yearlings. Lambs are sold store or finished. All stock have a reputation for shifting well to their next home. Set on an elevated site with sweeping valley views, Howard Head homestead, a two-storey, three-bedroom Lockwood residence, was extended by the Robilliard family when they moved in.
The farm also includes a two-bedroom cottage with adjacent hundred-square-metre lined garage, plus a four-stand shearing shed, covered yards and cattle and deer handling facilities, along with a range of other farm buildings. Consisting of a balance of flats, terraces and hills, the farm rises from 500 to almost 1000 metres above sea level, in a reliable rainfall area.
Comprising approximately 580 hectares farmland, 440 hectares native bush and 26 hectares of forestry, in addition to the national park, on the fourth side the property is bounded by forestry. Howard Head is situated 54 kilometres east of Murchison, 109 kilometres southwest of Nelson and 128 kilometres west of Blenheim.
Joe Blakiston says Howard Head is a captivating prospect.
“This property is the type that defines the farming career of anyone with the good fortune, foresight and imagination to hold it. Under its current regime it is ideally farmed by two or three people, meaning Howard Head would suit a farming family looking for a new adventure, and ready to embrace its distinct character.”
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