family farm

PHOTO: JOHN HAWKINS/STUFFThird generation farmer John MacGillivray at his property in Centre Bush.

John MacGillivray is selling the sheep farm his family has owned for 101 years.

MacGillivray is looking forward to retiring and travelling and the decision to sell came after none of his three children were interested in taking over the 302-hectare property at Centre Bush in Southland.

“I’m 72 … if now’s not the right time [to sell] when is,” he said.

The farm was for sale in 2007-08 but at that time his wife, Gail, was battling ovarian cancer. Her care was a priority and MacGillivray withdrew the farm from the market.

Gail died in late 2008.

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