Macdonald Downs Changes Hands

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30983, 12 February 1966, Page 10

Macdonald Downs Changes Hands

The well-known North Canterbury property of Macdonald Downs has changed hands. A company, all shareholders of which live in Otago and mainly in Central Otago, has been formed to farm the property. Known as Macdonald Downs, Ltd., it was incorporated in Christchurch at the end of last year. Since 1950 Macdonald Downs has been owned by the New Zealand and Australian Land Company.

: About 20 miles from Am i bet-ley and 12 miles from : Hawarden, the property of ! about 25.883 acres, all of which is freehold, comprises i mainly sweet tussock country. I It includes the Glenard and The Brothers blocks of about 11.000 acres and Macdonald 1 ■ Downs of about 14.600 acres

About 1500 acres are arable The country ranges in altitude from about 750 ft to 4729 ft

The property is subdivided by good fences into 22 blocks. 35 paddocks and six holding ! paddocks. There is an ex i tensive range of station build- ! mgs and a large wooden ; homestead in attractive surroundings It has lately been carrying 7500 breeding ewes. 3000 hoggets, 1250 wethers and rams and 200 breeding cows and replacements. Macdonald Downs has been in the hands of the New Zea land and Australian Land Company since 1950, when it was being farmed by Mr B. G Rutherford. From 1904 to 1937 it was farmed by Mi G. L. Rutherford.

The property is part of the old Horsley Down and Heath stock runs, which for many years were worked as one station .and made up one of the finest holdings in the pro vince. At one time the runs contained 120,000 acres and carried 75,000 sheep.

The transaction was handled by the National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zea land, Ltd.