Couple berry happy, but sad

Steve McArthur loads items sold at auction yesterday on to a trailer for Mark Pascall, of Christchurch. Photo: Linda Robertson.
Steve McArthur loads items sold at auction yesterday on to a trailer for Mark Pascall, of Christchurch. Photo: Linda Robertson.
As the auction hammer came down on the last pieces of Outram berry farmer Steve McArthur's farm machinery, furniture and toys yesterday, the life-long connection to his family farm ended.

The 46-year-old has lived on the 11ha property in Huntly Rd since he was a baby.

It was only natural there would be mixed emotions during yesterday's auction, he said.

''The farm has been here for 48 years and my wife and I bought it off my father about 15 years ago.

''It's sad seeing a large chunk of our family history being sold off to someone else.

''It's gutting, but it's also a bit of a relief that it's all coming to an end.

''It's hard to explain. It's sad but it's a sign of the times. We need to make a change and move on.''

Farmlands Real Estate agent and auctioneer Alan Eason said it was a small auction, consisting of 160 lots and about 65 registered bidders.

The majority of the lots sold, he said.

''We had everything from shipping container freezers to some precision seed planters, a couple of small tractors, market garden planters and diggers.

''Some of the smaller sundry lots, like accumulated toys, furniture and miscellaneous items, were a bit harder to move.''

The family house and the 11ha of land it sits on were sold recently to local dairy farmer Mark Butson.

It has been used to grow much of the fruit and vegetables sold at the McArthur's Berry Farm store near Outram Glen.

Mr McArthur said he and wife Kaye would continue to operate the shop and grow raspberries.

''We'll carry on running that. We've effectively downsized.''

Now the farm had sold and all the associated machinery auctioned, Mr McArthur said they could look forward to a quieter life.

''We're looking forward to a bit more of a life instead of being tied here 24/7.

''There was no Christmas or Christmas holidays previously.''

Despite the downsizing, Mr McArthur did not rule out expanding the business again in the future.

''We've got the raspberries at the moment and we'll see where we go from here. Maybe we could add to that in the future.''

john.lewis@odt.co.nz

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