Rosedale is one of the iconic New Zealand farming properties set on the rolling hills of the Waikaka Valley on the border between Southland & Otago.

Our history

Famed for its generations of sheep breeding from six generations of the Morrison family the property is as rich in history as it is in production. Indeed, famed sheep rustler James McKenzie may have been describing the Rosedale property to Highland friend Alexander McNab when from Lyttleton prison he recommended the best sheep farming land for McNab to settle. McNab took his friends advice and settled on his Knapdale Run nestled between the Blue Mountains and the Hokonui Hills. 

When the Knapdale Run was opened for settlement William Cumming from Banffshire Scotland chose the Rosedale property as his new home, with his nephew George Morrison joining him. Since then George’s sons, grandsons, great grandsons and great great grandsons have continued to farm the property.

The Rosedale Stud was founded in 1826 by George’s son Les based on the sound stockmanship learnt from his father. Since then the knowledge of generations has been passed on and grown with the use of the latest breeding technologies to what is today the Rosedale Growbulk and Romney Studs, World leaders in Sheep Production and Genetics.

Rosedale’s location with its Rosedale and Glenellen Homesteads has long been a focal point in the development and history of the area. Sheep and Gold and the promise of a new life bought the first influx of settlers to New Zealand and nowhere was this more typical than the Waikaka Valley.

Sitting on the junction between West Otago, Eastern Southland and Northern Southland the village of Willowbank grew with a butchers, blacksmiths, carpenters and grocers. Miners made their way to the gold diggings at Switzers, the valleys first rugby field was in the Rosedale front paddock, the Rosedale gold dredge plied its way on the Waikaka river and the original Glenellen homestead was the home for the miners who mined the coal for the gold dredges. The steam trains took on water and passengers at the Windmill, the Presbyterian church grew as a local landmark, the ‘old barn’ hosted community dances and locals played decades of tennis on the courts in the ‘tennis court paddock’.

Rosedale’s location with its Rosedale and Glenellen Homesteads has long been a focal point in the development and history of the area. Sheep and Gold and the promise of a new life bought the first influx of settlers to New Zealand and nowhere was this more typical than the Waikaka Valley.

When George Morrison wed Sarah White, granddaughter of Patahi it married together the Maori sense of Whanau with the Scottish sense of Clan and for generations the Morrison family have warmly hosted all visitors to their Rosedale and Glenellen homes.

The gold dredges are gone, the coal mine flooded in 1926, “Mrs Whites” is the only house left of the village, the rugby paddock and the tennis courts graze sheep, the last train was in 1962 and the old barn was pulled down in the 80’s. The Windmill and Church still remain as local landmarks but what hasn’t changed is the welcome to all visitors and that the heart of Rosedale is still breeding top performing sheep.

What We've Achieved

Rosedale is located on 530 hectares (1300 acres) of Waikaka's rolling hills in Southland, New Zealand.

Our farm

Situated midway between the Blue Mountains and the Hokonui Hills 60 kms north of Invercargill. 7500 stock units are farmed including 2000 stud ewes and replacements. The climate is temperate with an annual rainfall of 1000mm.

After graduating with a B.Com. (Agriculture), Donald Morrison spent 4 years working in London financial markets before returning in 1990 to farm the Rosedale property with his father George. Donalds brother Andrew joined them in 1992 and a period of business growth followed where the original Rosedale property grew from 4000su to 15000su with the purchase of the neighbouring Grand View, Valley View, Elmsligh and Browns farms along with the 1500 acre Glenroy Station at Clinton.

Operations were split between Donald and Andrew in 2012 with the original Rosedale property now including the Grand View and Browns property.

What We've Achieved

don morrison

Apart from general farming duties DON runs the Growbulk and Romney Studs, concentrating on all the extra work that needs to be done. Time consuming and tedious tasks with an attention to detail is often what is required to analyse and fine tune decisions for the best possible result. The challenge is worth the result. A B.Com.(Ag) from Lincoln University and 4 years work in London Financial Markets helped focus the attention to detail.

brigette morrison

BRIGETTE is the brains behind the operation responsible for the full recording and analysis work for both the Studs and the farms operation. With a Bachelor of Science degree from London University Brigette combines the need for accuracy with common sense farming. Brigette also serves as the full time hostess for the many overseas visitors and interns who visit us at Rosedale.

george

Having lived and managed the farm all his life GEORGE is the mainstay at Rosedale for all cultivation, engineering and maintainance work. Invaluable to our operation George is given free range to work with or on any vehicle he desires. George also has a farming business history with Governance roles on CRT, Cropmark, SouthFert, Federated Farmers and Telford College.

TIM

TIM is the Manager at Rosedale responsible for all the commercial decisions. With an extensive Farm Management background and training history from Telford College, Tim is the perfect person to get done well what has to get done. Tim also possesses a rare tolerance for all the required Stud distractions that compromise a good commercial operation.

Michael

Local lad MICHAEL has slotted straight in to the role of Shepherd at Rosedale and fills the role cheerfully and effectively. A great attitude to work and all people from Michael typifies what we look for from our whole work force. We think a job as good as farming should be enjoyed by everyone and make that a priority at Rosedale.

lochie

Finishing his International Business degree at Otago University LOCHIE is the sixth generation of the family to farm at Rosedale. Limited to University holidays most of Lochie’s farm work revolves around a handpiece or a drench gun which is the best way to help pay back a Student Loan.

dirk

Halfway through an Engineering Degree at Canterbury University DIRK doesn’t as yet have quite as big a Student Loan as his older brother but still contributes every holiday with the same enthusiasm on the shearing board. It is a pleasure to farm the Rosedale property and offer a future to farm for both Dirk and Lochie.