Iconic Canterbury high country station for sale

One of New Zealand’s best known high country properties, Castle Hill Station, is on the market for sale, offering new owners the chance to take on an established farm and take advantage of potential tourism opportunities.

The news comes as the neighbouring Porters Ski Field received resource consent for a proposed $500million redevelopment, including an extension of the ski field, and the creation of a substantial alpine village offering all year round recreational activities.

Located just one hour’s drive west of Christchurch, Castle Hill Station has been farmed for more than 150 years since the station was settled by the Porter brothers in 1858.

Originally 11,200 hectares in size, a 3065 hectare portion of the station was purchased in 2004 by well-known Auckland philanthropist Christine Fernyhough, in conjunction with the Department of Conservation which purchased the balance of the land.

Christine has spent the past eight years reconfiguring the merino, sheep and deer farming operation and converting historic buildings on the station into tourist accommodation.

Ms Fernyhough said the aim of the intensive redevelopment was to configure Castle Hill Station so that it could be managed sustainably and still return a profit.

“Having worked hard to establish a profitable and sustainable high country farming operation – and had the satisfaction of achieving that – we have now decided to put the property on the market and look for a new learning experience,” Ms Fernyhough said.

“Our families are also city based and committed, which makes any decision for succession difficult – hence the decision to sell.”

Ms Fernyhough has used Castle Hill Station has the inspiration for two books – the best selling The Road to Castle Hill, and Ben & Mark - Boys of the High Country.

Castle Hill Station has been placed on the market by Bayleys with a deadline of May 24. Marketing the property are Bayleys Canterbury salespeople Ruth Hodges and Tom Waldron.

Ms Hodges said the major redevelopment of Castle Hill Station had essentially created a new farm.

There is currently a total of 6500 stock on the farm, with a mixture of merino sheep, Angus and Angus/Hereford cross breeding cows and Rakaia Red Hind deer.

“Under Christine and John’s ownership Castle Hill Station has gone through an intensive fencing, regrassing, oversowing and fertiliser programme, while at the same time remaining sensitive to the station’s unique environment,” Ms Hodges said.

The redevelopment programme has also included the establishment of 38.5km of new fencing – both sheep and deer and including all road fences – and new paddock divisions, designed to maximise pasture use.

A comprehensive weed and pest control programme from both the air and the ground has been established, as well as comprehensive soil testing programme enabling the appropriate levels of fertiliser and lime to be applied.

New cattle and deer yards have been built and major work as been undertaken to rebuild the outside sheep yards, internal pens, and drafting races within the covered yards.

In addition to stock, Castle Hill Station derives income from three historic buildings on the property which have been fully restored to provide self-contained guest accommodation.

The largest of the buildings is the former shearer’s accommodation which has been transformed into a four bedroom/two bunk room house. The remaining buildings contain two bedrooms each, and all feature kitchen and bathroom amenities and separate lounges.

Another 1880’s built small wooden hut, which is possibly the first building on the station, has been restored and currently houses a collection of 20th century New Zealand decorative and applied arts exhibits.

Castle Hill Station’s main homestead, built in 2003, features four bedrooms plus a loft. The homestead is in an elevated position with commanding views of the property, and a wrap around deck designed to make the most of them.

Other buildings on the station include a three bedroom property currently utilised as a farm manager’s home, and an historic six-stand woolshed.

Ms Hodges said the new owner could not only take on a profitable farming operation, but had the potential to add value to the tourism side of the business.

“Christine and John’s focus has been mainly on the farm and making it profitable and guests have been somewhat of an interruption,” she said.

“But there is a platform there to significantly expand the tourism potential in a variety of different ways.

“There is great trout fishing on three rivers on the property and one of them, the Porter River, also has spawning Salmon.

“The property also provides outstanding horse trekking country, along with deer and pig hunting in the hills. In addition, the property offers visitors tramping and mountain biking opportunities, along with its extraordinary scenery and historic geography with exposed fossil shell rocks and cliffs and alpine plants.

“It would be possible to develop tourism activities around all these aspects.”