KEY POINTS:
Lilybank Station and luxury lodge at the head of Lake Tekapo in has been sold for an undisclosed price to New Zealand owners.
Set on 2200 hectares of leasehold tenure between the Godley and Macauley rivers in the Mackenzie country, South Canterbury, the property includes a sheep, beef and deer farm together with a 1486 square metre luxury lodge with eight suites, large living and dining areas and a manager's studio flat.
Lilybank was offered for sale in October and sold without an open-market campaign.
Marketer Chris Herbert said confidentiality surrounding the price and new owners was required while the process of transferring the crown pastoral lease, recreation permits and stock limitation certificates was being done.
Mr Herbert said it could be assumed that the price for the property was "very acceptable" as the sale was completed without any formal marketing campaign and "absolute minimum" disruption to farming activities.
Lilybank would remain in the hands of New Zealand owners who intended to retain the current farm management operation and managerial staff.
Mr Herbert described Lilybank as a "trophy property" in a spectacular environment.
Permission to build a golf course has been granted, with preliminary design concepts done by former golf professional Greg Turner, and the property features a 1.3km sealed airstrip.
The new owners did not intend to live permanently on the station but the company buying Lilybank represented a group of "very experienced business people who have extensive holdings and experience over a wide range of agricultural enterprises," Mr Herbert said.
- NZPA
