911 Arapohue Road, Arapohue, Dargaville. Photo / Supplied
For 70 years Ron Nicholas farmed his 18.6ha in Northland, right up until he was nearly 97. He was quite the character, says daughter Viv Hollis.
Ron was married to Betty for 67 years, and after she died last year aged 91 and he passed away earlier this year, the family has reluctantly put their 1912 homestead on the market.
They had a great life here though, says Viv, who is one of six siblings.
There are also 27 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren, with another four on the way.
Growing up on the farm was a wonderful, idyllic life, Viv says, and whoever buys the property should know there's something in the water around this part of the world.
Both parents lived to a grand old age, and they are not alone.
"In fact, in this district we've got so many people that have lived to over 90 and have lived well, we're wondering if it is the water."
She describes the farm as a large lifestyler and says the home has a relaxed and welcoming warmth she puts down to mum and dad's friendly personalities, thinking that somehow their love and charm has soaked into the walls of the original kauri villa over the years.
Ron first leased the property when he came back from World War II in 1947.
He'd fought in Egypt and at the Battle of Monte Cassino in Italy, where he'd been burnt with a phosphorus grenade.
He'd missed out on the ballot for land but wanted to farm, and when the opportunity arose two years later he bought the farm and married his sweetheart, Betty.
Viv says they started off with 35 cows and Ron became a pedigree Jersey breeder and was pretty successful showing cattle.
"It was sort of like a simple, uncomplicated lifestyle," says Viv.
"Mum and Dad were very, what's the word? They weren't pretentious. It was just a homely, welcoming, warm, hospitable place with lots of large family gatherings.
"Dad had a really neat sense of humour and a real quick wit right up to the end.
"He was farming right up until three months prior. It was amazing. He didn't look his age.
Everyone used to say 'Man, he looks about 75' but I think it was his attitude to life."
The farmhouse is a grand old villa built for one of the Sills brothers, locals who Viv says were known for their friendly rivalry to always build the best.
The home is packed with period features, from the carved mantelpieces to the ceiling domes, bay windows and stained glass.
On top of it being immaculately built, Ron and Betty took great care of it.
It has been repiled and reroofed - and for its 100th birthday they had it scraped back and repainted.
This part of Northland once had huge kauri trees and Viv says the house may well have been built from ones logged from the site.
The farm was the children's playground. They would build huts and climb trees and help out with the big garden and fruit picking, and Viv would help her dad feed the calves.
You could be self-sufficient here, she says, and there are beautiful views of rolling green hills and of the Wairoa River.
Arapohue translates as path or valley of flowers; there is good recreation and boating to be had nearby and Dargaville is not far away.