Jakem Farm owners driving for an off-road bargain as SA’s premier four-wheel driving facility hits market
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South Australia’s premier four-wheel driving facility, Jakem Farm, has hit the market, with the owners hoping someone will splash out more than $2.7m on the 144.5ha property.
Business co-owners Jason Grech and Christina Van Meeter bought the property in 2007, originally intending to set it up for a far different purpose.
“Christina and I were going to set up a camp for underprivileged teenagers – that’s what the original plan was but that idea was scrapped due to the ridiculous amount of red tape,” Mr Grech says.
“I grew up with dirt bikes and 4WDing has always been an interest of mine, and this was really something that turned from a hobby into a passion, then a lifestyle and a job.”
It has been a job that has earned him a solid reputation as director of a world-class facility and SA’s only legalised 4WD park.
“I’ve been told it’s the only government-approved park in Australia,” Mr Grech says.
“It has been a lot of work – it was overgrazed when we bought it and from where it was in 2007 to where it is now is a huge transformation.
“We’ve put in more than 500,000 trees, and I have to say we are incredibly proud of what we’ve created.
“Literally millions of man hours and blood sweat and tears have gone into that property. It was built on passion, never gain – it’s been a real bucket list item for me.
“I’d have no idea how many people have been through here over the years, but it would be thousands – we hosted a Beyond Blue fundraiser event here for years where we’d have 240 cars here at a time.”
The property at Lots 14 and 15 Eclair Mine Rd, St Ives is on the market with a “best offers over $2.7m” asking price and is for sale through Sylvia Jemson Ledger of Elders Real Estate Victor Harbor/Strathalbyn.
The property features established courses of varying difficulty, a main conference training area, toilet facilities, three separate homes, playgrounds, shedding and is set up to operate off the grid.
“Since we put it on the market we’ve had people say: ‘oh, you’re getting rid of a South Australian icon,’ and that’s nice to hear, but it’s time for me to move on – I’ve got other interests and passions to pursue,” Mr Grech said.
Mr Grech said, while he doesn’t believe it was the motivation for selling, he was strongly affected by the tragic death of a Parafield Garden woman in a rollover at the property last year.
“It potentially unconsciously played a part in our decision to sell – I don’t think so – but that incident really broke me as a person,” he said.
“But the support we had afterwards from the 4WD community, and the private messages were incredibly encouraging and uplifting – we run a professional business and people see that and support us.”
The property, near Callington, has multiple 4WD tracks and offers training packages from basic to advanced 4WD driving for the corporate and recreational market.
“I’ve met some amazing people through this journey, people who have changed my life, not just the park theirs,” Mr Grech said.
Originally published as Jakem Farm owners driving for an off-road bargain as SA’s premier four-wheel driving facility hits market