94 | nzdairy NZ CENTURY FARM & STATION AWARDS » Holyhead Farm ‘The land is part of me and my family’ Richard Loader Holyhead Farm, in the district of Te Rore, on the western side of Hamilton, has been in the Allcock family for 131 years, and counting. Tony Allcock is the third generation to farm the land and says it feels incredible to be part of that ancestral journey. “Maori talk about Tangata Whenua – well I definitely feel that. I have no intention of ever selling – the land is part of me and my family.” Along with 37 other farming families, the Allcock’s journey was recently acknowledged at the Century Farm awards, traditionally held in the small Otago township of Lawrence. “They were all determined people, with a huge collective farming knowledge, still looking at their bottom line and keeping things running for the next generation,” says Tony who attended the celebration with his wife Fran. “The speeches were a thank you to our forebears for hanging in there, because they went through harder times than us. We’re going through tough times now, but we’re farmers and we’re used to these waves as they come along.” The Allcock’s journey on Holyhead Farm commenced in 1893 when Tony’s grandfather, William John, then a 14-year-old lad, went to help family in need who had just bought the land. They named the farm Holyhead after the home in Wales they had all left behind in the mid-1800s. Holyhead’s first homestead was originally built as a canteen and boarding house to accommodate travellers disembarking from their Waipa River transport at Te Rore Landing. The boarding house was moved onto the farm to become the homestead with lovely gardens and paths lined with cabbage trees and flowers. In 1906 a new kauri villa replaced the little boarding house, in time for William John to move in with his new bride Jessie Greenup. They had four sons, one they named William Keith. The farm eventually passed to William John’s ownership in 1912. After the second World War the farm was split between the brothers, but only William Keith retained his share. Allcock ancestors (above). Tony and wife Fran (bottom right) along with children Farah and Lucas and Tony’ parents celebrate 100 years on the farm. “Those years when Granddad (William John) started here in 1893 were hard work, hand-digging drains, breaking-in the ground in and tidying it up. They started with a few cows and sheep. Dad (William Keith) carried on with it, tidying up other areas. We still had some sheep in some of the gullies. Dad had a jersey herd and when I took over I changed to Friesian. “We’ve increased inputs, looked after the cows, kept them in good condition and let them perform to what they’re genetically bred for. We’ve improved fertilisers, and the soils are right up to where they need to be for top performance.” Tony says living on a road named after you gives a sense of pride and belonging, and the family had a yearn to buy back the Allcock land along Allcock Road. Over time that dream has been realised, which is a source of great pride. The little boarding house still stands and the kauri villa has been totally Proud to be associated with Holyhead Farm 07 839 2106 Director - Matthew Fulton matthew.fulton@pkfh.co.nz renovated – symbols of permanence surviving the generations. “Our son Lucas is the fourth generation sharemilking on the farm. Our daughter Farah lives on the farm as well raising American Paint Horses and training both horse and rider in Western style.” “Those years when Granddad (William John) started here in 1893 were hard work, hand-digging drains, breaking-in the ground in and tidying it up.”
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