| 25 The extended family. NEW ZEALAND CENTURY FARM AND STATION AWARDS » Gutschlag Farming Ltd “The price of beef is pretty good so it makes sense to do that and have a bit of diversity. We supply ANZCO and Silver Fern Farms,” Pete explains of their future plans. History Carl Gutschlag was one of three brothers who emigrated from Germany in 1882. He, along with his wife Auguste and their two children, made their way to New Zealand, where three additional children were later born in Gore. One of their sons, Fred grew up in Pukerau and worked on local farms before transitioning to gold dredging in the Waikaka Valley. He bought his first 500-acre property, Romney Downs in Greenvale, in 1913 at the age of 26. In 1924, he purchased an additional 840 acres, later named Mockingbird Hill, located 5 kilometers from the homestead, which he utilised as a run-off. Fred was a pioneer in the area, being the first to acquire a tractor, a header, and a baler, and he was also innovative in applying fertilizers to enhance grass quality. Fred and Freda’s son, Eric, born in 1914, joined his father in farming. Over the years, Mockingbird Hill was developed into a productive area for growing cocksfoot seed, which became a significant part of their operations from 1948 to 1977. Eric and his wife Irma welcomed their son, Mervyn, in 1947, who also took up farming alongside his father. In 1997, Mervyn acquired a neighbouring 642-acre farm, a strategic addition that made economic sense for expanding their operations. The original block was sold in 2007, resulting in a productive farming operation totalling 1,480 acres. Today, the property thrives with a successful operation of 5,000 ewes and 50 Angus-Hereford cattle.
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