Excellent position with Lions River frontage

This exceptional lifestyle farm is very well situated only ten kilometers from Howick with easy access from the N3 highway or along a well maintained district road off the R103, not far from Piggly Wiggly on the Midlands Meander. The farm is set in an elevated position with incredible views of the surrounding countryside and the Lions River with almost four hundred meters of fenced river frontage.

There are registered water irrigation rights to irrigate fifteen hectares with a water irrigation volume of 120,000 m3 for rye grass or crops and there is a massive 23 kilowatt motor and irrigation pump that sits at the edge of the Lions River and pumps water up to two reservoirs almost seven hundred meters away, and to the farmlands dragline irrigation system. The whole field irrigation system is buried completely with only the risers exposed to connect the draglines. Typically there would be thirty draglines and thirty sprinklers active at any one time. The land is fairly flat and very gently slopes to the South. The soil quality is excellent - very rich and loose Red Hutton soil.

Girdwood Farm was historically a dairy farm, producing milk and cheese (Girdwood Cheese). Detailed Farm infrastructure follows:

DAIRY BUILDINGS:
The old Dairy has many original fittings still in place: milking stalls, double wash basin area with a large storage area comprising five self contained rooms, fifteen milking stalls.
five large utility rooms, two Cold rooms (not in use) comprising 2 x 6 meter cold storage shipping containers, large undercover storage shed area (roof height 5m), eight dairy calf growing pens under cover. The dairy is built of bricks and has an IBR roof.

PIGGERY:
The Piggery can cater for 260 pigs with the following facilities:
Primary building with covered asbestos roof 35m x 15m is internally fitted with brick stalls for the pigs.
Secondary building is a covered roofed building 35m x 15m piggery with stalls.
1 x bore covered building 15m x 3m.
Outside feeding pens.
Washing, sluice draining system, and sluice tank of 3m x 3m x 5m; for collection, drainage and spraying of waste directly onto the nearby kikuyu paddock.

The farm is currently running an Nguni Cattle herd of forty cattle, which roam freely on the farm pastures of lush kikuyu grass... many fenced and enclosed paddocks on the farm. All the paddocks are gated and chained and have automated drinking troughs. There are adequate perimeter trees around the entire farm which provide for shade and protection from the weather for the cattle. There is shelter for baled hay. There are three large sheds, two reservoirs, a Jojo tank, and the Eskom power is three phase power.

FARM SHEDS:
The first shed is 30m X 5m x 3,5m and is used to store tractors, machinery or hay bales.
Second large covered shed is 5m x 4m x 5m and is enclosed with diamond mesh sides and used to store hay bales.
Third shed for housing farm machinery or tractors is 8m x 6m x 2.5m.

RESERVOIRS:
There are two Reservoirs on the farm both located on the elevated area of the Farm.
1 x 100,000 litre reservoir. (round made of concrete).
1 x 150,000 litre steel Hydrex reservoir. (Plastic liner needs replacement).
1 x 2,500 litre JoJo tank for house water.

BOREHOLE:
There is a borehole on the farm within 50m of the house which pumps water to the top 2500 litre tank, which is then gravity fed into the main house.
Brick building with asbestos roof. 3m x 3m x 2,5m and a three phase pump.
This Borehole water is of excellent quality and taste. When tested, it was established to be of a very high standard - pure and crystal clear.

FERTIGATION AREA:
2,4 hectares under shade netting which is 20% shade netting for the fertigation area.
The fertigation area is fed via the 150,000 litre reservoir tank under gravity.
The fertigation building consists of large metal water filter, and two mixing tanks for the herbicides or liquid fertilizers to be applied via the drip irrigation.
The fertigation room is a double door 4m x 3,5m x 2m face brick building.
The fertigation system has an eight zone solenoid valve system. which was controlled by cables to control the eight zone area valves under the 2,4 hectares shade net area.

The established 2.4 hectare covered black shade net and gum pole infrastructure (240m x 100m) and drip fertigation system was used in the flower and vegetable growing production. The 2.4 hectare (100m x 240m) shade net area has eighty tall 9m gum poles with disused lighting infrastructure that was used to extend the flower crop growing season. Although not currently used, the infrastructure remains in place for a prospective enthusiast.

The main house is a solid North facing double storey home, approximately fifty years old and the first to be built in the area. The home has generous proportions with high ceilings and comprises an extensive front veranda that boasts incredible unobstructed views, large living areas with a feature fireplace, dining, kitchen and study downstairs; and upstairs features underfloor heating - six bedrooms and three bathrooms and large picture windows that let in lots of light and picture perfect views. The garden is established, with mature trees and includes a lavender garden and a jungle gym, all bordered by an electric fence, and a secondary fenced area - the house is enclosed within the electric fenced area and has an orchard. Fruit trees include nut, olive, tangarine, naartjie, Damsen plum, fig, lemons x oranges, peaches, pomegranates, Kumquats, macadamia and apple.

FARM HOUSE:
Double Storey with tiled roof.
6 Bedrooms located upstairs.
Large Study ,
Main Bedroom and full en suite bathroom, shower and toilet.
Built in cupboards.
Second bathroom upstairs.
Second separate toilet upstairs.
Guest toilet downstairs.
Two large main lounges located on different downstairs levels.
Large fitted kitchen, with separate laundry & scullery area.
Two geysers installed - one upstairs and one down stairs.
Additional separate laundry area with outside access
Separate large dining room, with a large sliding door which opens up onto a covered patio entertainment area.
Second main lounge has a fireplace and two large glass/wooden framed doors which open up onto the covered patio entertainment area.
Patio entertainment area has several built in cupboards for storage.
Large pool.
Covered Patio awning over entire patio area.
Double lock up garage.
Four car, carport.
All windows and doors downstairs are fitted with trellie doors.
Ultra bright external LED security lighting.
The house is alarmed
Excellent Vodacom cell phone service and 3G Wifi service.

STAFF QUARTERS:
Two temporary staff quarters
A portable 6m x 3m x 2.5m prefab chromadeck building.

ESKOM TRANSFORMERS:
Three x Eskom transformers on the farm - all three phase supply.
1 x 100kva unused.
1 x river supply transformer of 25kva used to run the river pump.
1 x house and farm supply with 25kva transformer.

Huge potential for various farming activities or for development.

For further information or a scheduled viewing, contact the agents.

The selling price excludes Vat.