In the early 1940s, Arnott Anderson a return serviceman, was seeking a suitable farm for his family to establish and develop.

Arnott, along with his wife Vida and daughter Judy, came to North Canterbury on repatriation leave. The journey was supported by his brother Jerry, his wife Agnes, and close friends Edwyn and Esther Wilding.

The Wildings welcomed the Andersons to their North Canterbury farm and joined them in the search for a property across Canterbury and Marlborough. Though they visited many properties, none met the financial or farming requirements until a casual comment changed everything.

Just before returning north, the Wildings’ housekeeper mentioned that the owners of Royal Oak Farm, situated on the northern banks of the Conway River, were considering selling. The very next morning, Edwyn and Arnott visited the property. They were impressed by the land and saw its potential. At £4 5s per acre, with stock to be taken over at valuation, Arnott secured an option to buy.

In July 1943, the Anderson family took possession of the farm and renamed it Kalimera, the Greek word for “good morning”. Arnott had fought in Greece and Crete during WWII in the NZ infantry and had been captivated by the country.

Arnott’s three sons had also served in the war, and when peace came, two of his sons, Derek and Andrew, returned to Kalimera, with Andrew purchasing the neighbouring property, Lagoon Flat.

Derek farmed alongside his father Arnott and bought into the property, with one of the titles, Mt Guardian, making up the back portion of Kalimera. In the early 1950s Derek and his father were quick adopters of a newly developed sheep breed, Perendale. So began a sheep stud that is still in existence today, selling genetics nationwide. Derek and his wife Pamela raised four children on the farm and lived out their days on the property. Tim, the eldest of Pam and Derek’s children, took ownership of the property with his wife Susan, and also had four children, Tiffany, Sophie, Victoria and Edward.

The Anderson family has lived on Kalimera, a picturesque 1,100-hectare farm, since 1943. Edward (Woody) Anderson and his wife Sophie are the fourth generation to run the farm and the performance-recorded sheep stud.