Former gold medalist places slice of paradise on the market

Former gold medalist places his slice of paradise on the market

A former New Zealand Commonwealth Games gold medalist is selling his rural Marlborough lifestyle property located in a premier wine region on the market for sale.

Tony Ebert became a national legend when he represented New Zealand in weightlifting at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games, winning gold in the men’s middleweight category. In addition to Ebert and the rest of the weightlifting team bringing home seven medals from the Games, their success was credited with the sport’s resulting meteoric rise in popularity in New Zealand. He has described the '74 Games as the “springboard for the sport's future success”.

Ebert went on to manage the LA Olympics weightlifting team and to coach internationally, before retiring professionally from sport, and now he and his wife Jenni live on Auckland’s North Shore. The couple owns two vineyards in the Marlborough region which supply grapes to leading wineries, and the 92.5 hectare lifestyle property in the Wairau Valley.

They have decided to place the rural pasture block, on the market for sale to focus on their viticultural investments and on organising and competing in weightlifting in the upcoming Masters World Games in Auckland in 2017. The property is being marketed for sale by negotiation through Bayleys Marlborough salespeople John Hoare and Kurt Lindsay.
“My wife and I have hugely enjoyed the farm for the past six years but we no longer have time for all of our passions so have decided to concentrate our efforts on our existing vineyard operations in Marlborough and the sport we love. The time is right to allow a new owner to take over and realise their own vision for this property,” said Mr Ebert.
The block, located at 3105 State Highway 63, lies 3km west of the Wairau Valley township and 30-40km west of Blenheim, Randwick and Marlborough Airport. Wairau Valley is one of New Zealand’s premier wine regions, with Marlborough producing 77 percent of the country’s total wine.

Comprising of a four-bedroom house, ‘cob’ mud and straw cottage, garage, and several sheds, built on 92.5 hectares, the property presents several opportunities to a new owner or investors, said Mr Hoare.

“Savvy buyers and investors will recognise the multi-use potential of this property, which could be developed into a working sheep and beef farm or vineyard. This is the perfect opportunity for someone with a passion for wine and winemaking. A new owner could step in and develop this property, which is ideally suited to these businesses.

A viticultural evaluation identified 80 hectares of the property as suitable for vineyard development, said Mr Hoare.

“Alternatively, it is ready of a new owner to move in and enjoy it as a family home, or it could be converted into boutique B&B accommodation.”

The 216 sqm four-bedroom home was built in the 1950s and has been upgraded by the current owner. A deck wraps around the front of the house.

The property also features a ‘cob’ cottage built in the 1900s with rammed earth walls. The historical house is 22sqm and has a concrete floor, and corrugated iron roof. In addition, there is garage and a range of sheds on the property including hay, wool and implement and calf rearing sheds, workshop and an animal shelter.

Electricity supply runs to all of the dwellings, and buildings, including water for stock and domestic purposes supplied from a spring on the property.

The surrounding properties are utilised for dairy, pastoral, forestry and an increasing amount of vineyard development, said Mr Hoare.

“An opportunity now exists for a buyer to take over this property in a sought-after area and either enjoy it as a family property or develop it into a business,” said Mr Hoare.

The property is for sale by negotiation.

ENDS

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