Two decades of meticulous planning, care and attention

After 30 years farming in Morven in the Waimate district, John and Marie Hall moved north to Mid Canterbury in 2006.

John, a cropping farmer who had mainly grown potatoes, was not ready to give up farming altogether, so their new place had to be big enough to keep him busy. They bought a 16 hectare bare land block at Elgin, south east of Ashburton, as John explains.

“I wanted to keep my hand in a wee bit, and this property was ideal for semi-retirement. I’ve kept a combine and some tractors, so have been able to grow crops, as well as growing and selling lucerne, baleage and hay,” he says.

John and Marie chose Mid Canterbury for its central location.

“We have one daughter in Canada, and one near Wellington, so when we left Morven, being closer to Christchurch Airport was an important part of the plan.

“It’s an excellent climate and we have good farming neighbours. We enjoy being close to town: within easy reach of Christchurch and only four kilometres from Ashburton’s main street, so we are able to belong to various clubs, though still definitely live in the country,” he says.

Family are well catered for in the house, with plenty of space when the daughters and grandchildren have come to stay.

While livestock are an option on a block of this size, John and Marie’s priorities are elsewhere.

“We prefer being able to go away in a camper van and not having to find somebody to come in to look after the sheep,” says John.

After they subdivided and sold half the block three years ago, now the time has come for the next change of pace for the couple, who are downsizing another step, moving to a smaller house with a smaller garden in Ashburton, albeit they are building next to a park, so will hold onto the wide outlooks they cherish so much.

John Davison of PGG Wrightson Real Estate, Lincoln is selling the property. He describes it as a haven that reflects the nearly two decades of meticulous planning, care and attention that the Halls have put into it.

“Wherever you look the labour of love lavished on this property is evident: an expansive home, sheds that will accommodate all your needs, eight hectares of superb soils with the added bonus of irrigation, and easy proximity to downtown Ashburton,” he says.

Completed in 2008, the home features a generous open-plan kitchen and living area, formal lounge, three bedrooms, games room and office. Farm amenities include a double garage; two generous sheds including one with a farm office; sheep yards and a chook house.

An auction for the property will be conducted on-site on 1 December.