Ray and Pam Hollis faced this question in 2004 when considering the future of their 100 ha farm at Wellsford.

The opportunity to subdivide by ‘carving it up ’ through a ‘bush lot’ subdivision would have resulted in fragmentation of the farm land and that did not appeal to them. They considered this was unsuitable for their property so they embarked on a long and sometimes arduous planning application to create sustainable land use that also provides attractive rural residential living.

The final plan has 12 freehold ½ to 1.5 acre rural residential lots strategically located to avoid interference with the farming operation and also each having a unique aspect and identity. Each lot owner has a 1/12th ownership in the farm which is an equal mix of productive farm land and conservation.

The lot owners benefit from their identity with the land, access over it, the opportunity to graze domestic animals under contract with the working farm lessee and share in the profit.

Gracefarm will allow people to be part of a rural life without the hassle of caring for stock and land.

The working farm area is  leased, initially to Ray who will continue to farm the land as lessee for the first 6 years. The owners’ affairs are administered through an incorporated society under a management agreement which gives a clear pathway for good working relationship between individual owners and common ownership. The net rental is distributed back to the owners’.

Ray explains that the concept has developed through years of experience as a Farm Management Consultant. He has observed other “Farm park”  style developments but they are more often focused on capitalisation through the subdivision and not primarily on sustainable, productive land use.

He is concerned that the importance of agriculture is being lost and productive farm land is going with it. Conservation is important but it is alarming when tertiary planners appear to have little interest in protecting productive land use. He is also concerned about the division between urban and rural view points and has a desire to promote a positive environment where people can enjoy, understand and be part of rural life without the hassle of caring for stock and land.

The reality of the life stylers dream, being in the country, involved with a farm and farm animals, wide open spaces are all met  at Gracefarm and Conservation Estate at a realistic price and without the burden of being tied to the farm.

Also farmers looking for a change in their life style or Sharemilkers looking for a home base will find here the environment they are accustomed to in a very convenient location.

Gracefarm would like to thank: Buckton Consultants - Surveyors, Hutchinson Consultants - Engineers, Terranova - Planning, Kitt Littlejohn - Environmental Lawyers, Naturescapes - Landscaping, Wharehine Contractors - Roading, Malcolm Webster - Fencing, National Bank - Finance, Coast to Coast Law - Legal, Ashby Consulting - Engineering, Hollis & Scholefield Ltd  - Valuers and Administration.