A well-known farm in the middle of the Sunshine Coast is set to be sold in its entirety, after the owners abandoned plans to retain some of the property.
About 35ha of Wises Farm was put on the market, with the remaining 4ha to be retained for producing figs, in 2022.
But the Wise family has now decided to sell the whole property, after the passing of Peter Wise in January.
They cannot commit to growing the fruit, which was Mr Wise’s passion and expertise.
He grew figs with years of experience, know-how and personal touch.
The property has garnered plenty of attention from prospective buyers from around the country.
The land is zoned mainly for low-to-medium density housing.
A development approval was issued in 2012 under the Maroochy Town Plan for a mix of housing, with some localised commercial development.
An updated version of that development application was lodged with Sunshine Coast Council in 2022. An approval would mean any future owner would have the potential to pursue that development application.
Further updates, including potential development on the additional 4ha, were made to the application last week.
The offering of the entire farm, at 239 Wises Road, is expected to streamline the sale and development approval process.
Mr Wise said last year that most of the property was put on the market due to his age, and he said prospective buyers would be offered the opportunity to submit a development vision that suited the region.
The farm has been owned and managed by generations of the Wise family for more than 120 years, while urban development sprawled around it.
It was originally serviced by an unnamed dirt track, which has since become a main road and officially named Wises Road.
A Wise Family statement explained that “the parcel of land that was proposed to be retained by Peter Wise for farmland, will now be included in the sale.”
“The Wise family are of course still coming to terms with Peter’s sudden passing and are fully committed to the sale of the property as per Peter’s wishes.
“The process is continuing as outlined in the information booklet that was released by Peter.
“It is anticipated that there will be a shorter fig season this year.
“The figs were Peter’s hobby and passion and without his expertise, sadly the sale of Wises Farm figs will eventually have to come to an end.”
Former Sunshine Coast mayor Mark Jamieson paid tribute to Mr Wise earlier this year.
He said the region had lost a significant figure in its agricultural history with the passing of “Maroochydore’s last farmer”.
“There is no doubt that with the passing of Peter Wise, we have lost a significant figure in the region’s agricultural history and a man with a great passion for the land and a desire to see the Sunshine Coast flourish into the future,” he said.
