Nestled in the rugged beauty of Southland, New Zealand, Davaar Station has been in the Macdonald family for over 100 years. The recorded history of the farm dates back to the early 1900s.
Davaar Station (originally part of The Plains Station) was settled in 1915 by Donald Macdonald, a Scottish immigrant drawn to New Zealand by the promise of open land and opportunity. When he arrived, Davaar was barren and covered only in tussocks. Graft and sheer grit would be required to establish a workable farm of pasture and livestock.
After losing both his sons through tragedy—one in World War I and the other to the influenza epidemic—Donald entrusted the farm to his nephew Angus, a wounded war veteran. Angus steered Davaar through the Great Depression and the years of World War II, expanding the property through utter determination.
In 1970, his son David and his wife Sally took the reins, raising their three boys while cultivating the wild, tussock-covered land and fencing by hand to improve its productivity. When interest rates soared to 30% in 1987, their focus was simply about holding on to survive challenging financial times.
David and Sally’s middle son James (Jimmy), alongside his wife Fiona (Fee), took over in 1993. For over 30 years, the two of them have run the station almost entirely on their own — improving soil health, lifting meat and wool quality, and passing on their passion for the land to their three children, Kate, Anna, and Ben.
In 2020, Kate returned to the farm after the global pandemic upended her travel plans. It opened the door to something unexpected: the chance to build a business rooted in family legacy and the land she grew up on. She founded Davaar, a knitwear brand using the very wool her family has spent generations growing.
Every generation that has farmed Davaar has faced adversity and uncertainty. Since its inception, they have looked to innovation and careful land stewardship to ensure its future.
Today, Davaar Station is still a working farm—but it’s also the heart of a modern, traceable wool story. With each garment spun and knitted in New Zealand, the family legacy lives on—strong, honest, and built to last.
Significant dates for Davaar:
1915 - The Plains Station is purchased by Donald Macdonald for £3,000 (8,519 hectares) Both Donald’s sons and intended heirs, Donald (Jnr) and Alick died. Donald, killed in action in Belgium in 1917 and Alick of the influenza epidemic. Donald’s nephew, Angus returns from the Western Front and although wounded on the battlefield in France, takes on the farm.
1918 – Angus moves onto the property and by 1920 had paid his uncle out for £11,000. The farm ran 3,600 sheep and 800 lambs.
1923 — Angus married Evelyn Cunningham (Evie) and they had three sons, Hamish, John and Angus (also known as David).
1939 — The farm weathered a huge snowstorm where the snow lasted for weeks on end, causing massive stock losses.
1940s — Fescue seed (which is used to grow grass) became in high demand, as it was being used to build airstrips in the second World War. The three Macdonald boys grew it in vast quantities, returning a favourable revenue.
1961 — Angus’ son David married Sally Robertson and also had three sons, Dougal, James and William.
1969 — Tragedy struck the family when Dougal was killed on a horse on Redcliff Station.
1970 — The station was split into three properties so each of Angus’ sons could farm their property on their own account. David and Sally took over the run end of the station, naming it Davaar Station. It was a combination of rugged hill country, native tussocks and grasses. There was one fence, no buildings or trees.
1993 — James took over the Davaar Station property with his wife, Fiona and their three children, Kate, Anna and Ben. The farm runs 6,500 sheep and 650 head of cattle.
2022 — Kate would become the founder of Davaar. The knitwear company where you find yourself today.
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