A dream to farm in North Otago began on a bullock wagon. After marrying his wife Rotorua ‘‘Rua’’ Minty, the couple bought about 5ha at Totara and planted it in potatoes. The profit from the potatoes allowed them to buy a 45ha farm at Teschemakers and then upsize to a bigger farm. In 1919, the couple bought a 85ha block of Totara Estate near Reidston — about 10km southwest of Oamaru — from the New Zealand and Australian Land Company. In 1955, Gordon bought 20 ewes, five ewe lambs, and a stud ram to launch the Romney stud Ruanui.

Source: Otago Daily Times August 17, 2021 16:30 UTC