An offer of $749,000 was taken to the Court for approval on Tuesday, March 4, 2014. The offer to purchase came from Georgios and Rebecca Papadopoulos, who have plans to restore the old farm house and work with tenant farmers to continue farming the land currently in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR). On Friday, March 7, Madam Justice Gerow ruled that the sale was appropriate and that the purchasers are sensitive to the unique conservation and heritage values of the farm. Find out more.
Photo by S. Carnegie
On June 29, 2005, TLC purchased Keating Farm Estate in the Koksilah area of the Cowichan Valley, near Duncan on Vancouver Island. This 13 ha farm property contains a number of heritage structures, the most significant of which is the main farmhouse. This 1880s-era house contains a unique Great Hall designed and built by architect John Tiarks in 1894.
In addition to the heritage structures, the site also contains a small wetland which will be protected. Adjacent to the wetland is the old CNR right-of-way, which crosses the property. This right-of-way connects to the Trans-Canada Trail and has great potential as a recreational corridor.
The property, which is in the Agricultural Land Reserve, continues to have significant agricultural potential. It currently has a heritage orchard, bee hives, chickens, and fields managed for hay, grazing, and mixed vegetables.